Ignoring First Nations concerns costs Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline

But environmentalists warn the battle is not over – with the B.C. pipeline project all but dead now there will be even more industry pressure to approve the Kinder Morgan and Energy East projects

by Adria Vasil, Now Toronto, July 5, 2016

Two down. Two to go. That’s the new rallying cry of pipeline foes after the Federal Court of Appeal overturned approval last week of Enbridge’s 1,177-kilometre Northern Gateway pipeline project through northern BC.

Eight First Nations, four environmental groups and the country’s largest private sector union, Unifor, launched a joint case against the controversial pipeline last fall after the project had been given a conditional green light by the Harper government. One of the conditions of that approval was that Enbridge conduct meaningful consultations with affected First Nations.

Coastal First Nations Call Out ‘Eagle Spirit’ Pipeline

Art Sterritt, head of the Coastal First Nations lobby group.

Energy project seen as Northern Gateway alternative rejected by two vital aboriginal alliances.

After a Wednesday press conference in Calgary announced new partners in a First Nations-led pipeline project, two major alliances of First Nations have publicly rejected the proposal.

The Eagle Spirit Energy project, which positions itself as a less risky alternative to Enbridge’s Northern Gateway, first set out to secure “social license” for a high-volume energy corridor through northern B.C. in September 2012. With financial backing from the Aquilini Group, president and chairperson Calvin Helin said his company consulted with First Nations and is in the process of designing a proposal that meets those terms.

Former Idle No More organizer unfazed RCMP have him under surveillance

Clayton Thomas Muller, former member of IEN and Idle No More.

By Jorge Barrera, APTN National News, Oct 21, 2014
An Indigenous activist says documents showing the RCMP have him under surveillance reveal Canadian authorities have criminalized Indigenous dissent.

Clayton Thomas-Muller, 37, said he wasn’t surprised to learn the RCMP is keeping tabs on him and compiled a file on his movements dating back to at least 2010.

“I try not to pay any attention to the federal surveillance issue,” said Thomas-Muller, who is currently living in Ottawa and is a former Idle No More organizer. “I feel very strongly that the work I do is just and is on the right side of history, so I really don’t pay any attention to the Harper government’s tactics to try to criminalize the work I am involved in which uplifts democracy, transparency, equity and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People. Specifically, the right of indigenous people to say no to harmful developments that threaten their way of life.”

Northern Gateway pipeline: First Nations outline constitutional challenges

“Grand Chief” Stewart Phillips of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs.

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip says at least 9 legal challenges have been launched

By Mike Laanela, CBC News, July 14, 2014

Several B.C. First Nations are launching at least nine court challenges to try to block Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline, leaders revealed at a news conference this morning in Vancouver.

The First Nations leaders said they will argue the proposed pipeline and its recent approval by the federal government is a constitutional violation of their aboriginal land rights in their respective territories, particularly in light of the Supreme Court of Canada victory last month by the Tsilhqot’in First Nation.

Northern Gateway Pipeline Protesters Lock Doors To Tory MP Offices

Locking the doors, June 24, 2014. Photos by Murray Bush-Flux Photos.

The Huffington Post, June 24, 2014

Chains and padlocks greeted workers at the constituency offices of two B.C. Conservative MPs Tuesday, as opponents of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline called for the politicians to “vacate their posts.”

The Port Moody office of Industry Minister James Moore and the North Van office of MP Andrew Saxton were targeted by a citizens’ group calling itself “Settlers on Stolen Land.”

The protesters locked the doors and posted notices on the office windows that outlined three reasons for their actions:

Conflicting messages about conflict: the “battle” against Enbridge

by Zig Zag, Warrior Publications, June 22, 2014

With the federal government’s approval of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline on June 17, 2014, there arose a chorus of angry disapproval from many people in BC. Some talked about waging a “war against Enbridge,” while others proclaimed the beginning of the “battle.” Predictably, the political parties opposed to the Conservative government promised to put a stop to Enbridge, if elected. Those who have worked to oppose Enbridge over the past 5 years renewed their pledges to carry out court cases, referendums, voting campaigns, as well as civil disobedience.

In fact, the “Hold the Wall” campaign initiated by the Yinka Dene Alliance claims that over 22,000 people have pledged to do just that, “using all lawful means.” But what if a court decides its unlawful to “hold the wall”? Those with perhaps the most realistic grasp of the situation have renewed their calls for direct action, if and when necessary, to physically stop the construction of the pipelines.

Clearly there are mixed messages being transmitted.

Head of Northern Gateway surprised by backlash

Protest in Comox, BC, against Enbridge pipeline, 2012.

Michael Smyth, The Province, June 21, 2014

Janet Holder, leader of Canada’s most controversial oil project, says she knew last week’s federal approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline would be controversial.  But she said she didn’t expect anti-pipeline politicians in Ottawa to show so much anger and bitterness toward her $7.9-billion baby.

“We expected a big reaction, but I don’t think I ever quite expected this,” said Holder, the B.C.-born vice-president of Calgary-based Enbridge and the public face of the company’s proposed Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline.  “The tone of the reaction, the level of reaction,” she said. “Obviously we knew there was still opposition. It’s just that the loudness and the language chosen by the opposition has been a bit surprising.”

What tone is she referring to?

Enbridge boasts its list of supporters

BC premier Christy Clark: “But the good news is this month’s royalty cheque has arrived.”

“The Northern Gateway project is a major economic win for B.C. and for Canada,” says BC Chamber of Commerce.

Mychaylo Prystupa, Vancouver Observer, June 18th, 2014

The day after the Harper government ruled in favour of the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline, stirring a political storm from Vancouver to Parliament Hill, the ordinarily media shy Enbridge issued its own statement Wednesday with a list of the pipeline’s boosters.

It includes right-of-center politicians past and present, industry titans, and business association leaders.

Not surprisingly, Dave Hancock – the Premier of Alberta – in the heart of the oil sands – supports Northern Gateway, as does the province’s front-running Premier-wannabe, Jim Prentice.

Direct Action across B.C against Big Oil and Gas is starting to take shape

TransCanada open house in Hazelton, BC, disrupted by protesters, June 18, 2014.

by Derrick, West Coast Native News,  June 19th, 2014

Opponents of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project spent the day after its conditional approval from Ottawa waging war on several fronts, Taking Direct action, using civil disobedience, legal action, and persuasion to further the message that the $7.9-billion pipeline should not be built.

Nine people staged a sit-in at Conservative MP James Moore’s B.C. constituency office Wednesday to voice their opposition to the project. Four were arrested after they refused to leave, but were quickly released by police and not taken into custody.

“We feel that Stephen Harper, along with James Moore, have a democratic duty to respect the convictions of Canadians and British Columbians who have said no,” Elle-Maija Tailfeathers, one of the protesters who left on her own accord, said in an interview.

When asked why she left the protest, Ms. Tailfeathers said: “This is a very long struggle ahead. I’m in it for the long haul. I’m ready to pick my battles.”

Environmental groups plan for pipeline protest training; MP’s office target of ‘sit-in’

A group of women responded to the Enbridge decision with a peaceful sit-in at Conservative MP James Moore’s office in Port Moody, June 18, 2014.

Various organizations gear up in anticipation of actions against Northern Gateway

By Larry Pynn, Vancouver Sun, June 18, 2014

VANCOUVER — Stanley Park could become a training ground for civil disobedience aimed at thwarting the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project as early as this summer, the head of an environmental group said Wednesday in Vancouver.

ForestEthics Advocacy believes that anyone planning to engage in non-violent civil disobedience should be educated on the process and the implications, said the group’s oilsands campaign director Ben West in an interview.

“We’re looking at doing a series of trainings over the summer … my guess is Stanley Park and other visible locations,” West said. “It would be open to the public to come and be part of them.”