Canada PoliticsHarper government expected to green light the Northern Gateway pipeline but battle against it is far from over
The Harper government seems poised to approve the Joint Review Panel's recommendations with regard to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline.
The decision, which must come before midnight Tuesday, would be a big step forward for the controversial $6.5 billion mega-project which would transport bitumen from the northern Alberta to Kitimat on the west coast of British Columbia.
But while the government's okay would essentially green light the project, First Nation and environmental groups are vowing to put up a big red stop light at every turn.
[ Related: Northern Gateway pipeline could become Harper’s biggest career decision ]
There are some groups promising more intense protests which could include acts of civil disobedience; some First Nations are vowing to take the pipeline battle into the courts and thereby stalling the project for years, even decades; and there are efforts afoot to pressure the B.C.'s Christy Clark government to stop the pipleine.
Meanwhile some of the project opponents are looking forward and organizing initiatives to oust the Harper government in 2015.
LEGAL BATTLES | Several B.C. First Nation communities have promised to fight the pipeline with the help of the courts. “We will bring you to court. We will be there for over 20 years,” John Ridsdale, hereditary chief of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation recently told Enbridge shareholders, according to the Globe and Mail. “The money that is invested in the Northern Gateway project will not be used.” |
MORE PROTESTS; CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE | Environmental groups, like Greenpeace and Forest Ethics Advocacy, say that they will continue to protest against the pipeline. Some activists are suggesting that an approval could lead to acts of civil disobedience. “If the Harper government continues to ignore the voices of the citizens of BC and over 130 First Nations we will do what we can, including the use of peaceful civil disobedience, to help protect the land, the water, and their rights to say no to this destructive project," Greenpeace's Mike Hudema toldYahoo Canada News. |
A CITIZEN-INITIATED REFERENDUM | As explained by the Canadian Press, an environmental group called the Dogwood Initiative is trying to initiate a pipeline referendum. Under B.C.'s ballot initiative system, organizers need 10 per cent of registered voters — in every single one of BC’s 85 electoral ridings — to sign a petition which would force the provincial government to call a non-binding referendum. |
GETTING B.C.’S CHRISTY CLARK GOVERNMENT ON-SIDE | If the project is approved, expect anti-pipeline activists to put pressure on B.C.’s Christy Clark government. The B.C. government can, in theory, withhold building and land-access permits to delay or even nix the pipeline project. In 2012, Clark outlined several "minimum requirements" for her governments’ approval. The conditions included: completion of the environmental review process, First Nations accommodation, improved marine and land spill response and benefit-sharing because B.C.'s taking the majority of the risk. |
THE ‘STOP HARPER’ FUND | According to the Vancouver Sun, Forest Ethics Advocacy is raising money for a ‘Stop Harper’ fund – monies for political action against the Harper government in the 2015 general election. “We still live in a democracy and the people are saying no to Enbridge,” the group’s spokesperson said, according to the Sun. Both the federal Liberals and New Democrats oppose the project and could potentially nix it if they come to power. |
Alberta Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Jim Prentice — who was previously contracted to negotiate with B.C.'s First Nations on Enbridge's behalf — says that, while opposition to the pipeline remains high, solutions exist.
"I do believe that we will ultimately succeed in exporting Canada's energy off of the west coast and I do believe that the Northern Gateway [pipeline] will be part of that solution,Prentice told Yahoo Canada News, during a Monday morning telephone interview.
"I think it's important to recognize that the federal government's decision — which I assume will be an approval but I don't know — is a [big] step along in the process. It's not the end of the process by any means and there's much important work that remains to be done with First Nations."
[ Related: Northern Gateway opponents prepare for provincial referendum campaign ]
Prentice added that, if he's elected leader of the PC's and premier of Alberta, he will play a hands-on roll in helping to facilitate those solutions.
"The government of Alberta will need to be a critical part of the ongoing work with First Nations and that whoever is the premier of Alberta will be an extremely important roll in developing the relationships and the partnerships that are needed," Prentice said.
"Not only with the government of British Columbia but with first nations [in B.C.]."
At this point, building those relationships and partnerships seems like a difficult if not impossible job.
(Photo courtesy of The Canadian Press)
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