Alberta business group applauds Gap, Levi clarification

EDMONTON, Aug. 31 /CNW/ - Alberta Enterprise Group (AEG) is thanking The Gap clothing retailer (which includes Banana Republic and Old Navy) and Levi Strauss for clarifying that it is not taking part in a boycott against fuel derived from Canadian Oil Sands.

The Gap and Levi Strauss will be removed from a Facebook page (Boycott the oil sands boycotters) aimed at persuading Canadians to take their business elsewhere.

"We applaud businesses for trying to reduce their environmental footprint and we welcome open discussion about the oil sands industry," said AEG President Tim Shipton. "But we draw the line at boycotts against Canadian fuels based on half truths and poor logic."

AEG is also warning its member companies and others to avoid negotiating with San Francisco-based environmental organization Forest Ethics.

"A handful of companies have reported Forest Ethics have misrepresented their environmental initiatives as being a part of boycotts when that is clearly not the case," added Shipton. "Any business should do their homework before joining forces with the likes of Forest Ethics."

AEG is Alberta's common sense public policy advocacy group dedicated to lasting prosperity and strong communities. AEG members employ 40,000 people in the energy, manufacturing, construction and retail industries and generate billions in economic activity each year. For more information on AEG visit www.albertaenterprise.ca.

For further information:

Tim Shipton, President, Alberta Enterprise Group - 780.909.8584