On the CBC's X-challenge, the Conservative representative speaking on the expansion of the oil sands to five times its current size said "It has to make sense economically and ecologically".

I beg to differ. First and foremost we must ensure our survival. Only after that is done can we worry about our comfort.

In other words, the plan has to make sense ecologically, and after we have the green house gas problem sufficiently under control to make sure we don't kill ourselves off, only then can we try to optimise our wealth.

In other words, you must get the survival right. It is very nice to get the economics right, but not fatal if you don't get it perfect.

People who think you can balance ecological survival against oil sands wealth are like drunks setting off to swim across the Atlantic because somebody posted a $100,000 prize.  They are ridiculously optimistic.  They refuse to acknowledge they are headed out on a suicidal mission.