If there’s one thing above all politicians hate it’s democracy. For God’s sake, we can’t have the rabble have a say in decisions! Let them do this once and we’ll never get to run the province again! They believe that we live in a parliamentary, representative “democracy” which means that we hire people, called representatives, to do our thinking for us and take decisions in our name.
Any thinking citizen knows that the public, for many reasons, cannot grapple with all the issues and email a vote on each one. The theory of our government, runs the mantra, is that at election time we can throw those we disagree with out on their duffs. That, at any rate, is the theory.
In practice that doesn’t happen, which means that a government does what it wishes – subject only to elections every four years at which time new issues cloud the old.
There is a way that the public can be consulted: a referendum. This is a tool used in many different ways, under different systems – sometimes as a method to get rid of a politician, sometimes to eradicate legislation, sometimes only to go to governments as popular advice.
I believe there are issues of such importance that the voter must be called upon to render its opinion and I say that the Enbridge pipelines and tanker traffic are just such issues.
On the national scene, in 1992 we had a referendum on changing our constitution when the government could have sought approval of the provinces. This vote was held because the issues went to the root of our social contract.
The referendum resulted in heavy debate in the country, especially in BC. Canada turned down the proposed agreement with BC by far the biggest “no” vote.
In BC recently we had a referendum on the HST. It was easy to handle on the technical side and the public made its decision.
Whether or not that vote was an example of a debate that went to the root of our system of governance is debatable but I give you an issue that clearly does. I refer to the proposed twin pipelines to Kitimat, the subsequent tanker traffic and the expansion of the Kinder Morgan line and its increase in tanker traffic on the south coast. This package of policies to bring bitumen to our coast and ship it by tanker does indeed present a permanent change in policy on an issue that certainly goes to the root of our way of life.
That these Enbridge pipelines will leak is now beyond debate and it’s crystal clear that even if the company does get to a spill in wilderness BC, there is nothing it can do – the damage will be permanent. It’s the same, we surely must agree, with a tanker spill in our coastal waters. Enbridge has an appalling record, over 800 spills since 1998. Moreover, apart from temporary jobs in construction and a handful of permanent jobs, BC gets nothing for being the overland conduit for the highly toxic bitumen from the Tar Sands.
Prime Minister Harper and his Resources Minister Joe Oliver are talking about this all being a done deal.
Does the destruction of our environment not seem to you to be a matter we the public should have a say in?
In making this case I understand that it would not disturb First Nations land and other claims.
Let’s be clear on this – Prime Minister Harper hasn’t any time for democracy.
Because these issues are so important, Premier Clark should hold a referendum but she hasn’t the courage – she’s afraid to threaten Harper on the HST and of more concern, she wants Harper to withhold all support for John Cummins at the local level. That should be easy since Harper and Cummins loathe one another.
So to Premier Photo-Op: Madam, BC has jurisdiction over its coastline so let’s have that referendum.
Oops! I nearly forgot – is the debate I proposed between you and me on our environmental policy a go?
Surely you, with an entire government behind you, can’t be afraid of taking on an old man who would only bring to the debate all he has left – a fire in his belly!
Back to business – will you have a referendum and let the people decide what must be the law concerning pipelines and tanker traffic in this province of ours?
If not, why not?
Remember when ANOTHER Harper helped stop the Meech Lake Accord? I have been so thankful to the First Nations ever since.
My take is that Harper and his minions want to sell this oil/gas/bitumin as soon as possible, as the market will soon dry up. Everyone in the world is looking at alternative energy. Harper does not want to be left with a couple billion dollars of product which will never be sold to anyone in the ground. He wants to look like the great economic saviour, and to hell with the tree huggers, environment, First Nations, not to mention ordinary Canadians who hope to have a bit of Canada left when we get rid of this ego maniac.
Pipeline spill in Abbotsford just this week, also a brand new baby in the family, who happily do not live there.
With all the care moms and dads take to be healthy, have healthy babies, eat right, etc.etc.etc. Would you take your brand new 1 day old baby home to a pipeline spill out the back? People had headaches, nausea -the whiners – how dare they?
Just came back last Sun. on the Coquihalla Hwy to Van. from Kamloops. Saw about 6 or 8 tractor trucks with long lengths of pipe heading north up the coquihalla. I wondered where or what they were going to. They were not pvc,black plastic. These were heavy duty and were a rust brown color. just wondering what more destruction, where is happening.
susan h.
We stand on guard for thee… words from our national anthem. Whatever the exact meaning these words had at the time they were written, for me, especially at this time, they mean that we the people, especially in the province of BC have to stand on guard for the natural state (environment) knowing it is the basis of our sustenance. We have to be wary of those promoting projects that ultimately could destroy our wild life, wild lands, ancient cultures, water ways for short term profits. Many of us don’t think it’s a fair trade for losing that which is precious and irreplaceable. So we citizens have to get in the way of those projects we object to. If protest lines, placards, writing campaigns, laying in front of dozers don’t work, then perhaps a referendum might. What ever works.
For those who may be against projects like the northern pipeline, and oil tankers plying our coastline yet do nothing, have no right to bemoan the destructive spill that will occur when they learn about it from the media. We all need to be stewards and stand on guard, not only for this generation, but future generations as well.
What’s the point in having a referendum? The Lieberals still haven’t acted on the last one that they promised to abide by. I say no. Let Harper bring on the army and have his legacy be Prime Minister of the first civil war in Canada.
I feel that having a referendum will certainly bring more light to the subject, however, you can look at the different media sources and see the bias flooding out. On both sides they depict a lot of support but in reality I know at least in my community no one knows about this. (Which I am working avidly to change!) I’m afraid that the wrong side will be shown, that it will seem like those of us against it are just tree hugging hippies that don’t care about the economy. But that there is no real economic benefit to B.C. as well as the disgusting fact about our environment, our loss of First Nation’s Rights, and our Democracy as Canadians. I feel not enough people care. And even those that do still drive around and consume. All these facts and politics are so… nit-picky. When I look at the bigger picture, I can say that I’m doing a fair amount of what I can to pay my rent back to this planet. But this way, our lifestyle of consumption, is where the real problem lies. I am ranting, obviously, and I will fight Enbridge to the very end, but where are the debates about thinking for yourselves, about educating our youth, about changing our lifestyles, simplifying?
I say NO to a referrandum, since many across Canada do not really care one way or the other. The most people that would be affected by an oil spill will lose in the end. There is just too mucy to lose in B.C. if there is an oil spill, especially on the coastal waters. Just remember what happened in Valdez Alaska, and in the Gulf of Mexico, and 300 other oil spills.
Everyone knows what happened with Exxon, I would hate to see a repeat on our coast, it would affect all walks of life in B.C and Canada, It is not just the First Nations that are going to lose out. Everyone that enjoys sea food and other wild game would lose out, this whole planet called earth depends on every living thing, on land, in the air, and in the sea. With out one or the other there will be a lot of extinct living creatures, and humans will be counted in the extinction, not only the water and land will be affected, the air we breath will be filled with toxic chemicals. Chronic ailments will rise and medications may get depleted. We as living beings have a right and obligation to take care this beautiful country we are proud to call home.
To me, Harper is a fascist dictator, to expect anything reasonable from him, is an exercise in futility. Good grief, Harper even had the gall to try and bully other country’s into accepting, the dirty oil…Right in Durban, for the meeting of Nations on climate change. Nothing will ever get through to Harper. Just remember all of the other dictators of the world, past and present.
The F.N. are having a meeting with Harper. I really hope they realize the kind of a snake in the grass, Harper really is. Anyone who would send scum like Campbell as High Commissioner to England, is totally suspect.
Right, Harper is sending his Russian lobby heavy, to take Christy’s and her dismal failure into his hands. Anyone any where near Harper, I wouldn’t trust them as far as I could throw them.
I haven’t heard Cummins say anything regarding, the Enbridge pipeline, nor the dirty oil tankers. The BC people are fighting for their lives here. there has been squat done about the filthy diseased fish farm either.
The media, is the most disgusting of all. Not one lick of shame, for spreading the governments lies. Since Harper, this country is going downhill fast. No Jobs for six months.
Hello Rafe, a referendum on this issue should be an absolute nessecity given the potential unreversable damage from this pipeline and also the tanker traffic it would require. There are far too many questions not answered and ignored by government on this issue. Also the governments dishonesty of all things tarsands in the past should be reason for great concern.
A referendum would insure all aspects of such a project be brought forward so we the rightfull owners of all involved can make a more informed decision about our resourses.
Logical questions like… why have we been subsidising this industry for billions and be made to accept so little for our investment?…. among many others!
Thanks Rafe
Don
Rafe, what would be your comment if the referendum happens to be a yes to the pipeline? Would you stand aside and let it happen?
Harper says the final word is his.. is it?
That being the case a referendum would be a waste of taxpayer money since we all know Harper wipes his ass with the Charter and democracy is for fools..
I am all for whatever it takes to stop that filth from washing up on my beach..
Dear Raef The NOTA electoral Option , which you have so successfully
scorned over the last thirty years or so, along with referendums, is alive and goes from strength to strength,.
Monetarism reform is within the Grasp of the People.
Get on the Bandwagon, The 1st of May this year there will begin across Canada what some will call a General Strike and others like yourself,will see their dreams of an Age of Social unity and Intelligence made Manifest Peace Blessings Rev,Bro,John Allen West,
Photo-Op would never agree with a referendum on this Rafe because the answer is already a foregone conclusion.
More than 80% refusal I would advance as the results….speculating on this part; involved First Nations at 100% refusal.
Just to install the pipeline alone would do so much damage to the environment; does anyone think that the installers care about what is in the river they just blew through with their equipment in the haste to get the pipe down and in place?
How about getting the lengths of pipe there in the first place? Hack, slash and burn access roads anyway they like; who has the ability to check on any of that?
And this is before any bitumen flows……
Harper is holding off on re-introducing legislation to reverse the HST so that the provincial Liberals sink to unrecoverable depths and the Conservatives become the opposition….(this plan was hatched when Campbell first took over the Liberal party and the premiers office)…..
Cummins and Harper loath each other; Cummins is a Progressive Conservative while Harper is a Reformer….always has been, and always will be, a Reform candidate….