This from the CBC:
Canadian oil and business executives are well-represented in the delegation travelling to China with Prime Minister Stephen Harper, with oil exports expected to be high on the government’s agenda.
A delegation assigned to Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver includes eight mining or oil and gas companies.
That list of companies includes none other than Enbridge, Inc.
The prime minister and his government are asking for a show down and my experience this past weekend in Prince Rupert indicates that the Enbridge deal, about which more in a moment, is going to spawn a First Nations and supporters v. industry and government fight compared to which all other showdowns will seem like minor incidents.
First, let’s look at the Enbridge deal from the point of view of First Nations both in their territory over which the pipeline travels and those on the coast where the consequent tanker traffic will go.
Enbridge, one of the largest pipeline companies in the world, has an utterly appalling safety record. In fact since 1998 they have had 811 “accidents”. They now tell us that with that record, mostly in easy geographical situations, they can take on the hugely difficult route to Kitimat “accident free” (or that they have a “plan” to deal adequately with spills if they occur).
The pipeline they propose, and Harper and Co. support, is about 1100km from the Alberta Tar Sands to Kitimat over and through both The Rockies, The Coast Range and over 1000 rivers and streams, including critical sources of three major salmon runs. To put this in perspective, in July of 2010 Enbridge had an “accident” which spilled over a million gallons of crude oil near the Kalamazoo River which is near Marshall in Michigan, a populated area.
Two notes from that: the cleanup continues and most observers say it will never be completed and this spill is, unlike the Rockies/Coast Range, easy to access with machinery. And another note: the spill was crude oil, which is bad enough, while the Enbridge pipeline would carry bitumen going west and condensate (the stuff they mix with bitumen) east – bitumen is far more viscous than crude oil.
The last points are very important for that there will be a spill from the Enbridge Northern Gateway line is not a risk but a mathematical certainty, and will happen in places only accessible by helicopter and the damage will be permanent no matter what the company does.
We have then 1100 km of venomous gunk of which there will be spills in wild areas inaccessible except by helicopter, which spills threaten precious wildlife and fish, which spills will be there forever. And let’s be clear on this – these spills will happen again and again.
Mr. Harper and his government, dirty hand in dirty hand with Enbridge and the Chinese giant Sinopec, are bound and determined to impose this on the people of British Columbia.
What of our fellow citizens, First Nations? They come into this awful business in two ways – those whose lands have not been ceded and those who live, as they have for centuries on the coast. At this point there are 131 nations absolutely opposed to Enbridge stepping one millimeter into BC.
Enbridge and the two governments are convinced that these First Nations can and will be bought off. And this point must be considered.
Damien Gillis and I were at the huge First Nations rally in Prince Rupert this past weekend and we can both say with confidence that this will not happen – certainly not amongst those represented there. We were both at the historic “Save the Fraser Declaration” press conference last December and saw the resolve in the faces of these leaders.
I saw the resolve when I spoke to 500 on Saturday night as I received a hearty standing ovation. I spoke with them afterwards and I can tell Mr. Harper and his resident toady, Resources Minister Joe Oliver, that they have badly and dangerously misread the situation.
The coastal nations know that they must help their eastern brethren in order to help themselves. In the words of spokesman and much admired Gerald Amos of the Haisla Nation,“It isn’t going to happen.”
What’s the matter with our governments? Don’t they understand that there is no way you can settle or compromise this issue? You can’t have half a pipeline or smaller boats!
Premier Christy Clark is a big player in this game because she can put a ban on tankers. The fact is that Gordon Campbell sent a note to Ottawa some years ago saying that his government had no issue with tanker traffic and Premier Photo-Op no doubt thinks that takes her government off the hook. Think again, lady.
Prophets of doom are often, like all messengers, blamed when their prophecies come to pass. I’ll run that risk and tell you fairly that I don’t believe that First Nations can be bribed and that the governments and Enbridge are provoking them and thousands of supporters, growing every day, to resort to violence.
People all around this province, aboriginal and non-aboriginal, are sending the governments, China and Enbridge a very solemn message: Don’t do it.
For in your words, Mr Harper, “there will be consequences.”
I see a fight comming and i will stand with anyone that stands against the pipeline
…Mr Mair,
As a truly liberal person, I am not in the habit of agreeing with you, however the latest words you’ve had regaurding the Enbridge/Conservative/[neo]Liberal proposition, have absolutely rung true. Anyone can see that the numbers don’t add up for BC. Why would we take on the risk of shipping all this crude through our coastline? Why would we take the risk of loosing the headwaters of so many of our rivers? Why would Alberta export it’s jobs? Harper and his goons are in for a taste of the wild west. BC is the true west, and we’re tired of having our concerns hijacked by Alberta and the Feds. Our economy does not and will not benefit from the oil nearly enough to warrant this “project.” Truth be told if we don’t disrupt the pipeline, mother nature will, in an earthquake, or a tsunami, and our entire 45,000 person fishing industry could vanish. No matter if you stand with labour or with capitalists, in BC, Alberta’s ethical oil smells like a load of crap.
I understand why companies want to do this, profits..
Our politicians who support this, you gotta wonder. I can only conclude they must be receiving a great deal of money to go along with this. We know from what has happened with other pipelines Embridge has, leaks, leaks, leaks. The Exon Valdez went down a long time ago but the impact still lives.
I don’t know what the average citizen in the lower part of B.C. will do but I think Harper abolished the gun registry at the wrong time. I do believe we will have stand offs as we did at Oka in Ontario. When we have similar situations in northern B.C. we will become a pariah on the world stage.
With Harper signing the agreement to pay for any damage to the Chinese investments we can bet he will send in the armed forces & RCMP. I don’t think Harper/Clark are in touch with the reality of what could happen and if they are don’t care. They don’t seem to understand there will be people who are willing to die to stop this pipeline & the tankers
Most First people I know along the West Coast depend on the bounty that nature provides. It is part of their healthy diet. Many take time off work to help in the community harvest of the different fish species for their entire communities. In fact, we could learn a lot from them in the way they work together to make sure everyone is provided for. This seems to be an alien concept in todays Canadian society. To stereotype our founding First Nations as “living off Treaty money” or the “Government Tit” is plain racism and misunderstanding.(You decide) How would you like an alien belief system walk into your community and tell you how and what to believe? To strip you of your beliefs and dictate what to believe. It has ruined the identity of our First Nations people and created a lot of animosity in current generations. So if you feel offended by the stand of our indigenous people, suck it up, it’s our fault.
Hey San,
This is great stuff here;
“If this pipeline doesn’t go through then there might not be any more sucking of the government’s tit for you people that “are living off the land”
And this one too;
“You tree huggers are all squawking about environmental damage that hasn’t and probably WILL NOT HAPPEN”
Thank you for chiming in here exposing your stereotyping, ignorance, and bigotry.
enter your message here…Queenie are you living off the land or are you living off of government treaty money? If this pipeline doesn’t go through then there might not be any more sucking of the governments tit for you people that “are living off the land”
For Jenna and all you others that oppose the oil industry then give up all your vehicles, and all modern conveniences because they are all made up of oil products -ie plastics.
You tree huggers are all squawking about environmental damage that hasn’t and probably WILL NOT HAPPEN. Get some education about the oil industry with it’s safety regulations and shut up, or give up all your modern day perks you hypocrites!
Some reading to do:
Keystone pipeline facts;
http://www.readersupportednews.org/opinion2/271-38/9884-keystone-pipeline-facts
21 years after Exxon Valdez; “The Death Marsh”
http://www.themudflats.net/2011/11/14/exxon-valdez-the-final-showdown/
Hello, I am Tsimshian/Nisga’a woman who has lived off the land ever since birth. my 96 yr.old Grandmother has lived off the land & waters too. My only wish is that these foods which has sustained us for many generations will sustain my future generations. If not for the lands & waters we may not be here today, so we speak for our future generations when we say “NO TO ENBRIDGE!” THEY DO NOT WANT TO CLEAN UP YOUR MESS, MR. HARPER.
Right now, we have 5 generations living and breathing on this beautiful North Coast. Our pristine lands & waters are not yours for bargaining, the almighty $ you wish to line your wallet with will have to come from some place else. Leave our lands & waters alone.
Maurice,
Most of us understand that BC is to become a “thru-way” for a pipe laid from Alberta to the coast where ships load the cargo.
The tar sand is not the property of BC it is the provincial property of Alberta. We receive no rights or royalties for allowing this access, but stand to receive all of the detriment the pipeline is sure to bring.
This is parallel to me asking my neighbour if I can lay irrigation pipe across his backyard so I can water the neighbour’s yard next to him. What economic benefit does my immediate neighbour receive besides an ugly pipe interfering with his backyard enjoyment?
Could you describe in your own words, exactly what boom you refer to for the BC economy.
Looks like you’re copying and pasting from the Enbridge/Harper PR handbook, Maurice. It’s not the building of the pipeline that poses a massive threat to the environment – it’s the inevitable spills that will ensue after it’s operational. And they WILL happen – that’s a certainty, especially with a company that’s had over 800 spills since 1998!
There will be very little environmental damage done by building the pipeline. The boost to the economy of BC will be big. The feds will be very careful to place all safeguards to ensure no accidents will happen. Tankers travel to and from the west coast of North America every day. Please approve of this project and let Canada move forward.
Well then Mehdi,
Your ultimatum has failed previous to even one shovel of dirt being lifted; the pipeline company has a long and proven track record of not being responsible enough to clean up any previous damage; why would you think that damage to the BC environment would be treated any differently?
As far as any present elected official is concerned, anyone who is against this pipeline and the type of environmental damage it will bring is labeled an enemy of Canada. Is that the responsible attitude towards Canadians that you so richly endorse?
I will support the pipeline wholeheartedly IF Harper and all other ELECTED officials commit to be responsible in perpetuity, financially and otherwise, for any and all negative outcomes, including oil spills and other environmental disasters resulting from this project.
Very well put Rafe – I agree 100%.
I am sure that both Harper and the corporations think this will blow over and disappear – WRONG !
We will have repeats of what happened in Alberta over the sour gas wells – but on a much larger scale. There will be sabotage by those that feel the government just doesn’t care. There is no need to say who by – there will be thousands of people willing to take on the greedy and rich corporations and the Canadian government.
I am pushing 70 years of age, but if the government doesn’t back down on this, I will be lending a hand where I can.
At this rate there won’t be enough police and the army will be called out to try and bring order.
It will be very much like Egypt and the rest of the Arab world unrest – major disobediance as some people will be fighting for their lives and livlihoods.
Wake up Ottawa – you are being blind sided by greed and communist China – be very wary of what you do !!!
Thank you
More then ever have We’ve entered a point of no return. Fossil fuel is dead. We have renewable resources/ energy it is fact. Lets progress not digress, everyone knows we can survive without it. Humanity can always find a way to make money out of…anything, even if it is ”free”.
I too fear the violence that is so quickly approaching. An Afghanistan style war in Northern B.C. is a distinct possibility.
enter your message here…Mr. Harper, Joe Oliver, and Cristie Clarke at the end of the day. Should slow down and realize that at the end of the day. This could and probably will become an armed conflict if you simple elected officials don’t listen to reason. Please do not let this happen. Canada in the name of corporate obligation will never live this down. You who believe you are elite will fade away. You can not let this happen on Canadian soil. Unless you are an Idiot!!
enter your message here…Mr. Harper, Joe Oliver, and Cristie Clarke at the end of the day. Should slow down and realize that at the end of the day. This could and probably will become an armed conflict if you simple elected officials don’t listen to reason. Please do not let this happen. Canada in the name of corporate obligation will never live this down. You who believe you are elite will fade away. You can not let this happen on Canadian soil. Unless you are an Idiot!!
enter your message here…Mr. Harper, Joe Oliver, and Cristie Clarke at the end of the day. Should slow down and realize that at the end of the day. This could and probably will become an armed conflict if you simple elected officials don’t listen to reason. Please do not let this happen. Canada in the name of corporate obligation will never live this down. You who believe you are elite will fade away. You can not let this happen on Canadian soil. Unless you are an Idiot!!
Thank you so much, Rafe. In this time on planet earth, we are at a crucial point- choose life or quick money which is slow death. I don’t want to sound mentally ill, so I will return to logic. If we merely look at the 21st century, we have a chance to thrive, have jobs, have quality of life, and protect plants and animals but I believe we must stay strong against the Northern Gateway project. As a sideline, I thought if Alberta wants to kill itself, it can build a pipeline through Alberta, to the Los Angeles pier, bypassing B.C. Then the Chinese can have their oil. But I bet that the Western American states will not be as easy as people think.
We British Columbians have got to speak up strongly and often against this pipeline.
Another great column, thanks Raife. will be sharing.
You are absolutely right Rafe – there will be consequences – huge ones! How huge remains to be seen, but I will tell you, that between all my networks and the people in them, there is but ONE lone voice that thinks the pipeline is a good idea.
I will hate to see the results if push comes to shove…
I am confident that the majority of Canadians will stand with the First Nations – and mr harper needs to stand back and take a look, for once, at the reality of the situation.