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.”

Large anti-pipeline protest following Northern Gateway decision

Rally against federal government’s approval of the Enbridge pipeline in Vancouver, June 17, 2014.

By Amy Judd,   Global News, June 17, 2014

VANCOUVER – A large crowd gathered in downtown Vancouver Tuesday night in protest over the approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline project.  The federal government accepted the independent panel’s recommendation to impose 209 conditions on Northern Gateway proposal and those opposed to the project immediately organized a rally.

Between a rock and pipeline: Feds distance themselves from Gateway

By Jennifer Ditchburn, The Canadian Press, June 17, 2014

OTTAWA – Only two years ago, Prime Minister Stephen Harper described the Northern Gateway pipeline project as in Canada’s “vital interest.” His natural resources minister called opponents “radicals.”  But on the day that his government gave its sanction to the project — as long as Enbridge Inc. meets 209 conditions — nary a Conservative minister or MP was there to announce it.

The news came, instead, via a colourless release with the bureaucratic title “Government of Canada Accepts Recommendation to Impose 209 Conditions on Northern Gateway Proposal.” The usual prefix, “Harper Government,” was absent. The surgical gloves approach speaks volumes on the tough position the Conservative government find itself in on the project.

Unist’ot’en Clan Refuse All Pipeline Projects: A Video Message

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 18th, 2014

[Unist’ot’en Territory – near Smithers, BC] Amid threats of a raid and impending pipeline approvals, the Unist’ot’en Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation are prepared to continue to defend their territories against the incursion of government and industry. A soft blockade was erected in 2009, which remains today, to insure that pipeline projects which violate Wet’suwet’en Law would not trespass onto Wet’suwet’en territories to develop projects without their consent.

Northern Gateway is not alone: 5 more pipelines to watch

From Keystone XL to Trans Mountain – 5 pipeline systems that could help move oil out of Alberta

By Max Paris, CBC News, June 17, 2014

It’s decision day for the Northern Gateway pipeline. In Ottawa, camera positions are being marked out, pencils sharpened and microphones tested. All eyes are fixed on the clock, waiting for markets to close, so today’s announcement doesn’t ruffle any financial feathers.

But Northern Gateway isn’t the only pipeline that could remake the face of North America’s energy supply and roil the continent’s political waters. Here is a list of five more — some well-known, others not so much:

Northern Gateway pipeline approved with 209 conditions

No Enbridge, art by Andy Everson, Kwakwaka’wakw.

By Laura Payton, Susana Mas, CBC News,  June 17, 2014

The federal government has agreed to let Enbridge build its Northern Gateway pipeline, subject to 209 conditions recommended by the National Energy Board and further talks with aboriginal communities.

Enbridge wants to build the pipeline from Bruderheim, Alta., to Kitimat, B.C.   NDP Leader Tom Mulcair called it “folly” and “pure madness” to think anyone can put supertankers in British Columbia’s Douglas Channel.  Both Mulcair and Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau said they would reverse the decision to accept the National Energy Board’s pipeline approval.Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, environmental groups and First Nations reacted quickly to news of the federal approval, releasing statements opposing it.

Northern Gateway opponents prepare for provincial referendum

Protesters march against Enbridge hearing in Vancouver, Jan 14, 2013.

Pipeline opponents developing strategies to delay, halt project

The Canadian Press,  June 15, 2014

Resigned, perhaps, that federal government approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline is inevitable, opponents of the project are formulating a plan to make sure British Columbia’s politicians remain opposed to the project.

For months now, members of the Dogwood Initiative have been preparing for a provincial referendum akin to the vote that forced the Liberal government to repeal the harmonized sales tax in British Columbia.

Should Ottawa give the pipeline the go-ahead by this Tuesday’s deadline and the province issues the necessary permits and authorizations, spokesman Kai Nagata said his group will be ready.

Ottawa continues talks with B.C. First Nations over Northern Gateway

Final deadline to decide on the $6.8-billion Northern Gateway pipeline set for June 17

The Canadian Press, June 9, 2014

With the clock ticking down for his government’s decision on Northern Gateway, Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford said Monday there have been significant strides forward on pipeline and marine traffic safety in talks between Ottawa and First Nations.

For at least the fourth time in as many weeks, Rickford was in British Columbia. This time, he was speaking at an aboriginal summit on pipeline and marine tanker safety.

“Obviously, there are varied reactions. We’ve all, I think to a certain extent, agreed that there are issues around a specific project or a specific aspect of energy infrastructure, energy transportation, but we’re plenty capable to have those conversations,” Rickford told reporters following his speech.

Anticipating rebellion: citizens vow to “stop the bulldozers” if Enbridge pipeline approved

Two of six police vehicles set on fire, Oct 17, 2013, Mi’kmaq territory (near Rexton, New Brunswick).

Warrior Publications Note: On the eve of the federal government’s anticipated decision on the Enbridge Northern Gateway, the professional activists, NGOs, and Indian Act band councils that have thus far managed the public opposition to the proposed pipeline project have begun rallying their troops and blowing their battle trumpets.  But the last thing they and their funders want is any kind of confrontation or conflict.  They want it all nice and legal, and one of their biggest fears is that Natives might go all warrior on them, as we saw in New Brunswick with the anti-fracking resistance.