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Protestors rally against pipeline â– Northern GAteway
DeLynda Pilon
newsroom@pgfreepress.com
“We have to protect our land for our children - for all the children.� Chief Martin Louie of the Nadleh Whut’en First Nation joined about 150 people outside the Prince George Civic Centre Wednesday, braving a crisp autumn evening to hold placards and banners protesting the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline during the province-wide Defend Our Coast day of action. Prince George was one of about 60 communities to organize either a protest, sit-in or a rally Wednesday. Sussane Skidmore Hewlett, who is working to become the NDP candidate for the Nechako Lakes riding, said she was able to join a protest earlier the same day in Fort St. James, where about 60 people came out. “There was a lunch rally in Fort St. James and they had a good turnout of dedicated people,� she said. She added her biggest issue with the pipeline revolves around environmental concerns. “It’s the environmental piece that concerns me,� she said. “It’s not just about what is best right now. It’s about my children and my grandchildren. We have a responsibility to leave them a good planet to live on. There is not enough evidence the safety measures Enbridge had proposed will be met.� Skidmore Hewlett added work took her on a road trip recently where she drove through the Prince RupertTerrace area. She said she was touched by the pristine beauty of the region, and added she is worried about the possibiity long-standing damage not only there, but to the over 800 rivers and streams the pipeline will cross if the project goes forward. “We have to stop it,� she said. Bobby Deepak, the NDP candidate for Prince GeorgeMackenzie, added his voice to the pipeline protest Wednesday. “There are a number of reasons the pipeline is not good for B.C.,� he said. He mentioned the economics just don’t work in favour of the residents of the province, adding he attended the speech given by Robyn Allan, a leading Canadian economist who spoke at UNBC just before the Joint Review Panel hearings began in Prince George. Allan contended that, in the end, people would be paying more at the pump every year if the pipeline was built. Deepak added the environment risks concern him as well, particularly the danger of the tanker traffic traversing what has been described as one of the world’s most
challenging coast lines. “If it’s no good for B.C., I’m not sure why this government is even entertaining the thought of going forward with it,� he said. He added that B.C. and Canada as a whole, are rich in natural resources. “We should refine and upgrade this oil in Canada. We should create jobs instead of exporting them,� he said. Former city councillor Debora Munoz pointed out similar protests were happening all over the province. “It’s very important to keep the momentum going,� she said. “We know corporate greed is behind this proposal. “B.C. is not for sale.� After spending a few moments with arms joined, encircling the Civic Plaza, standing as a wall of opposition against the pipeline, protesters grouped together to listen to Ian Picketts with the Sea to Sands Conservation Alliance. Before he began, one of the protesters yelled, “where’s our mayor? Where’s Shari Green?� “That’s a good question,� Picketts said. “She was invited.�
He added one thing Enbridge has done for the province is to bring people from different walks of life together with one object in mind. “This has brought us together in a way as never before. We are all coming together and standing together. We have got to keep at this.� He said the company promised it wouldn’t proceed without full First Nations support, and yet it seems to be. He said the prime minister made promises regarding oil in China which he can’t support, then Picketts reminded the group that those in protest of the pipeline were once called foreign-funded radicals and pointed out Enbridge has more than $100 million to make friends along the pipeline route. Picketts encouraged everyone who attended to grab a card addressed to their local MLA, then sign it and send it in to show they stand against the pipeline going through. Protesters then spent some time singing and chanting, First Nations drummers keeping the beat as they lifted their voices together.
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