The Premier and the Prime Minister are playing very dangerous games indeed.
Prime Minister Harper is acting as though the Enbridge pipeline is a done deal– indeed he’s telling anyone he meets that very thing.
The PM, never much for public opinion at the best of times, cannot see any possible way the general public and First Nations could stand in the way of this ghastly project.
He’s relying on the National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel hearings to allow him to say that the people have had their say so – on with the pipelines! That they will approve of the double pipeline is all but a forgone conclusion and already The PM and his Resources Minister are complaining that the Commission is tiresome and wasting time; however, the time isn’t wasted as far as I’m concerned, for every moment the Commission sits will make more people aware of the egregious environmental insult this project is.
Where is Premier Clark? I believe that the provincial government has shared jurisdiction, yet she seems to think if she ducks her head British Columbians won’t notice her.
Ms. Clark and the Prime Minister are paying no attention to the fact that the First Nations across the entire project oppose it, but here’s the crunch: if this Tar Sands gunk doesn’t get shipped from the coast there’s no point to pipelines.
Premier Clark can’t avoid the tanker issue. On this issue the First Nations are adamant – in Coastal First Nations spokesman Gerald Amos’ words on the tanker traffic, he is nothing if not concise: “It isn’t going to happen.”
The issues of the pipelines and tankers are joined at the hip – Enbridge is scarcely going to build pipelines unless the Tar Sands gunk will have customers and customers require tankers to go down the coast.
This means that even if Premier Clark can avoid the pipelines issue, she sure as hell can’t avoid the tanker one. To make the cheese more binding, this will be a huge issue by the time the next provincial election comes around in May of 2013.
I have no doubt that the NDP will be unalterably and vocally opposed to the tanker traffic and the premier will have to fish or cut bait. To make it worse, she’s in a Catch 22 position – if she opposes the tanker traffic many of the right wing of the party will vote Conservative; if she supports it, the centre/left and the crucial swing folks will vote NDP.
Both the PM and Clark completely miss the strength of the opposition to the pipelines and tanker traffic – a strength that is growing and will continue to grow.
In my lifetime, a long one, I have never seen a more dangerous situation where violence may well not be avoided. I have also never seen such a serious situation be ignored by our political masters.
Harper trots around the world to get customers to buy Tar Sands gunk without any serious process to hear the people; while the Premier pretends that it has nothing to do with her.
All the while opposition grows and grows – a clear prescription for disaster.
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Rafe’s new book, The Home Stretch can be downloaded onto your computer, iPad, Kobo, or Kindle from amazon.com or kobo.com for the obscenely low price of $9.99
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ONLY WHEN THE LAST PLANT HAS DIED, THE LAST RIVER POISONED AND THE LAST FISH CAUGHT , WILL WE REALIZE WE CANNOT EAT MONEY ? FIRST NATIONS CREE SAYING
this enbridge idea is a very stupid idea, everythings about fucking money doesnt matter what the happens to the natural resources and the wild life! they dont give a flying fuck what people across bc think about this dumb ass idea, if they go through with it there fucking idiots that need a ass fucking kicking!
Hi Steve,
JRP – Jointr Review Panel
ED – Executive Director
EAO Environmental Assessment Office
The point is that the Minister is empowered under law to enter into what is called an equivalency agreement. In doing so the Environment Minister is empowered to allow ONE hearing to take place when large multi jurisdictional projects are being reviewed.The idea is to streamline application processes and avoid multiple reviews of the same porject.
In 2010 the Env. Minister, I assume through a ministerial order, granted his power by law, to the Executive Director of the Enivironmental Assessment Office. This is a big deal. It is rare lower level crats are blessed with the power of an elected minister. The move allows the ED to strike a deal with the NEB (National Energy Board) and in the case of the Northern gateway pipeline establish the Joint Review Panel as a one stop shop for the project to meet all its regulatory hurdles.
The problem, especially in the case of the Northern Gateway, is that Harper now drives the agenda and his government has subjegated environmental issues by tailoring the JRP to meet precedent set by delgamuukw while muting and smearing enviros.
Christy Clark is “SMALL ” – thinks small, acts small and is small in the whole picture of things. Pinnochio 9% Campbell has done the most damage. Chrusty Clark is floundering around in a sea of deception, despair and growing hatred.
The real problem is Stephen Harper and his fascist dick-tator policies and actions. His political ideology and allegience is at odd’s with the position of Prime Minister of Canada !
It is not a coincidence that the “Robocalls scandal” and political election fraud just happened in the last election. It is without a doubt, part of a well orchistrated effort at election fraud – with Canada losing democracy and every Canadian the right to be able to vote freely.
Enbridge and Alberta are just a part of the whole corrupt picture. All large corporations are on board with Herr Harper, as they get free handouts from the public purse and pay little to no taxes.
Sorry about the rant – but the rot starts at the top where decisions are made.
Thanks
entepeople need to speak up and have their say.
I was talking to a lady last week and she said the government will do what they want any way. I said if you care you should stand up and speak against what’s wrong.
She replied ” I care” but she plans on nothing but accepting what comes.
My question is; does it mean you care if you say ouch when you are getting screwed over, .. does it mean you care if …you say “Poor buggers” when you see someone else getting screwed over. We are talking about potential destruction of every eco system in BC’s water ways and Harper is happy to say it is a Native issue, every person should get up and get involved.
r your message here…
enter your message here…Kevin I probably agree with you, but what is ED, EOA and JRP?
Is it just my imagination or is our Christy becoming Chunky? Whew! I’m also thinking that our dear Crime Minister may not even be around by the time this Environmental Review is finished. He’s in deep trouble over this electoral fraud debacle, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if, when the smoke clears, we’ll be heading for another federal election……..minus the robocalls this time.
Harper will never win a fair fight, so who will be the ruling party when Enbridge tries to force his bulldozers through B.C.? We know the NDP is against the pipeline/tanker project. Nathan Cullen is standing firm.
The Liberals? Who knows, but they’ll be much easier to deal with than the Harper thugs.
Interesting times ahead, to be sure.
It will be pretty hard to get anything out of Christy right now. She’s in hiding in order to avoid questions about Atwal.
I’m ready. Bring it on Steve! Let’s see if those Armed Forces kids will take up arms against their parents and grandparents…..
Sir, I agree that there is a serious possibility of warfare to stop this project. I disagree with your belief that both governments are ignoring this possibility. Canada has had her army in Afghanistan for the last decade. This means that the Canadian Army is well equipped and trained in mountain warfare against indigenous warriors. Canada is as well equipped and trained as is possible but they are not bragging about it.
All the pieces are in place… the only question is who fires the first shot.
I am convinced that BC could have played a far more serious role in the approval of Pipelines crossing our province. And there is a coniderable paper trail that proves cabinet made numerous moves to ensure they literally stepped out of the way, when in fact they could have ratcheted up their ability to influence the pipeline proposals.
This includes the Environment minister devolving his decision making power to the ED of the EAO as outlined in the act governing these processes.
Moreover, the whole establishment of the JRP has been tinkered with in order to meet requirements dictated by precedent setting legal cases like Delgamuukw versus providing an appropriate venue for environmental concerns to be aired and properly asssessed.
This “Streamling” has resulted in a complete abandonment of BCs ability to properly represent the interests of British Columbians.
And as you point, the result will be just as the movie title suggest ” There will be blood”
Again, thank you sir for telling it like it is.