Andrew Frank

Labeling critics of the oil sands 'enemies' is downright dangerous

Andrew Frank — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:16:48 +0000

Recent polls suggest that public opinion of Canada's oil sands is becoming increasingly polarized. You are either for the wholesale exploitation of the resource at any cost, or a cold turkey shutdown, at any cost.

However, many Canadians are still on the fence.

In the public debate, all of the usual suspects have blood on their hands, myself included. I've done my share of fighting as a communications strategist for environmental groups over the years. It's a job that has paid my bills, and because I've always believed in free speech, I never had concerns about the work.

Enemy of the state

The #EnemyGate scandal

Andrew Frank — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:07:39 +0000

Canadians deserve to know the truth about what was said between the Prime Minister's Office and Tides Canada CEO, Ross McMillan.

Some of you may be familiar with my story as a whistleblower. For those who aren't, here's the Coles Notes version: My name is Andrew Frank, and last week I was fired from ForestEthics Canada, a charitable project of Tides Canada, an environmental charity.

I was fired because I gave Tides Canada CEO, Ross McMillan, the "heads up" that I was going to swear an affidavit, and go public with a story that the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had threatened his charity and labelled ForestEthics an "Enemy of the Government of Canada" and an "Enemy of the People of Canada."

Whistleblower claims Prime Minister's Office tried to silence Enbridge pipeline critic

mgregus — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:44:00 +0000

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

The Prime Minister's Office called ForestEthics Canada an "enemy of the Government of Canada," according to allegations detailed in a sworn affidavit, dated January 23, 2012.

My name is Andrew Frank. I grew up in a small town in the Okanagan valley of British Columbia. My granddad taught me how to fish. My father was a well-respected lawyer known for his unwavering integrity, and my mother was a favourite kindergarten teacher. Both have always impressed upon me the importance of telling the truth.

Today, I am taking the extraordinary step of risking my career, my reputation and my personal friendships, to act as a whistleblower and expose the undemocratic and potentially illegal pressure the Harper government has apparently applied to silence critics of the Enbridge Northern Gateway oil tanker-pipeline plan.