Prince Rupert Councillor Wants Vocal Opposition To Enbridge Project
Sunday, March 4, 2012 @ 5:01 AM
Prince George, B.C. – A Prince Rupert city councilor says its incumbent upon the municipal and provincial governments of B.C. to let the Prime Minister know exactly how they feel about the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal.
Jennifer Rice says Prime Minister Stephen Harper has made the issue very political and because of that, at the urging of some residents, council in the coastal city passed a motion strongly opposing the project. Rice says the Enbridge position that people should await the outcome of the Joint Review Panel hearings on the pipe before forming an opinion “is a load of hogwash. I sort of believed that for a little while and then I started reviewing some of the direction from the National Energy Board and they specifically ask local governments to come forward and take a position. The actually create a whole other level of participation strictly for local government.” She says Enbridge and senior government has been spinning this wait and see attitude “when we would be doing our constituents a disservice if we did such a thing.”
Rice says the entire review process is a farce. She says the NEB, supposedly an independent body that’s going to make the decision weighing the benefits against the risks for Canadians, lists oil companies as its partners. She questions how you can assess your “partners” in an unbiased manner. Rice says “it’s hypocritical, it doesn’t make any sense. We’ve been fed all this propaganda that it’s an unbiased system, that this is how democracy works, and here we have Stephen Harper saying we’re going to fast track this project anyway, it’s a no-brainer, so what’s the point in doing it (holding hearings) in the first place?"
The councilor also says it’s worrisome that two of the panel members are from the oil industry in Calgary, the other from Ontario, and none of them have any marine, coastal or British Columbia first nations experience. She says rivers on the prairies are totally different than coastal waters in B.C. and the terrain in this province is nothing like the flatlands upon which pipelines are traditionally built in North America.
Rice says local governments and British Columbians have to stand up and be really vocal in their opposition to the project.
Comments
Have a listen Christie!!! We need you to say NO, there is no benefit to B.C.so why would we even consider such a risk.
This is the same councillor who made the motion and carried the day for the position that Prince Rupert City Council declare their official opposition to the pipeline and tankers.
She’s a refreshing change to the level of civic politicians voted into office here in PG. Wouldn’t be surprised if we hear a lot more about her.
We need people like her to stop tanker traffic on our east coast. Same risks.
We need our mayor to send a clear messaage to Ottowa that Prince George doesn’t want the pipeline either!
How do you know?
Good for Ms. Rice for speeaking out about this issue.
Finally, an elected official with cajones (not withstanding the fact she is a female)
metalman.
Who’s to say that “Prince George doesn’t want the pipeline” ? My mind is not made up and I have not seen a public referendum that declares a position one way or the other…..
I say that we don’t want the pipe line and there are thousands of the same mind Walter. I suggest that youj read up on the subject.
I say that we don’t want the pipe line and there are thousands of the same mind Walter. I suggest that youj read up on the subject.
Surefire double-clicking to see if you have supporters? Not here for sure. I’m with Walter – let’s see the panel actually sort fact from fiction. Do you really want to take Ms. Rice at face value – she’s so informed that she says the panel has no First Nations experience – perhaps she as well as Surefire should “read up on the subject”. One of the panel members is a First Nations person – I’d say that’s experience, but Ms. Rice seems to ignore that in her well informed position. If she gets the 10 second sound bite for the news article wrong – what else is she potentially ill informed or wrong about?
Perhaps there is some value in letting the panel separate the facts from the rhetoric – oh wait that’s crazy talk to these folks isn’t it? And to attack the others that have industry experience – is that wrong as well? Just because of their experience you judge their character to be questionable? That is beyond a shallow view. With such responsibility, shouldn’t they have experience in the subject matter – like Ms Rice asks for – like First Nations…. If you think they should no nothing about pipelines and have a resume that excludes relevant experience, then the next time you have something wrong with your car or your health for that matter take yourself to the butcher or dry cleaner to diagnose the problem.
Yes, we can all believe those who stand to gain financially on this pipeline. Those are the ONLY ones who are in favor. And we are supposed to all fall in line and take THIER word as face value. Disregard the 800+ spills and pipeline leaks enbridge has been responsible for over the past decade. Disregard the exxon valdez that has decimated Prince William sound and ocntinues to do so 25 years later. Those are just minor inconveniences and we shouldn’t take them too serious. Any other bright ideas, Einstein?
Oh, by the way, I AM from Prince George and I DON’T want the pipeline or tanker traffic off our coast.
OK, let all of us get really real here! Put all the crap aside, and all of you give up plastic NOW!! Ain’t going to happen. Your TV is plastic, your clothes are plastic, your coffee maker is plastic,your I Pod is plastic, just about everything you touch is plastic. I’m sending you this message via a keyboard made of plastic. My toothbrush is plastic, the lite switches in my home are plastic, my counter top is plastic, the brains of most people against oil are plastic. My pill bottles are plastic, my ketchup bottle is plastic, my pen is plastic. Everything around us is PLASTIC. The chair I’m sitting on is Pleather, the sides of my toaster are plastic, the interior of my car is plastic, the utensils I take camping are plastic, the tarps I use when camping have plastic in them.
Every place I look in my life, I am surrounded by things made of plastic!!
All your fancy make up stuff is in plastic bottle ladies. Your shampoo is in plastic bottle, your laundry detergent is in plastic bottles, your bags at the check outs in most stores are plastic!
Any of you morons no where plastic comes from……probably not!!!It comes from OIL
I could go on forever about the things we all use today that are made from plastic, and most of you, when you are done with it, throw it in the landfill! Shame on most of you!
taxi
Surefire:
well certainly there are lots against and probably lots for …. but I suspect that the vast majority would like to be able to weigh the long term risks and benefits on their own merits without being intinidate or having the reasoned facts being squelched by the zealous special interest nuts on either end of the spectrum.
oh, and by the way … I am more than a little bit read up on the topic … but I do try to avoid getting sucked in by the obvious propaganda
Taxinapothole-your correct we all use plastic. Maybe they should start manufacturing in Alberta where the oil is? Instead of shipping it half way around the world? Just a thought.
Taxinahole .. what is your point? It always amazes me that those with weak arguments resort to the all or nothing attitude every time. If you don’t want a pipeline then you must stop using anything that uses oil. That is such a ridiculous and weak argument. It truly show lack of imagination as to the real issues here. You moved away from here to alberta, so of course you couldn’t care less if our lakes, rivers or oceans get polluted, you are a simple flatland zero (slang for truck driver here in BC) who relies on a diesel guzzling rig to make a living. Maybe a better idea would be for alberta to set up refineries in edmonton or calgary and refine all the diesel you need? I am sure it’s a rather small minority of people here in BC who want this pipeline or tanker traffic off our coast, so I don’t take too much stock in an argument from someone who couldn’t hack it here and constantly complained about the bad air here, who tries to tell me and thousands like me that this is a good deal for us. Would you still think it was a good idea if you lived here and got off your fat @ss and actually got out in the bush to hunt and fish or fished off our west coast? I doubt it.
I am very glad we have some politicians like Ms Rice that get it. I support her 100% and I wish our city council would as well.
Christy Clark supports Gateway she just won’t say so until after an elect… typical BC liberal way of doing politics when they know they are onthe wrong side of an issue. One only has to look at Pat Bells recent position on the Ottawa trip where Gateway was pushed hard to realize the position of the BC liberals. It will never happen that the BC liberals will come out in favor of protecting the BC coast. Unfortunately whether we like it or not if we want to see Gateway stopped we will have to vote ndp next election… I don’t like it, but it seems that’s the way it will have to be to stop Gateway.
As for council in PG… they don’t take a stand on anything, so I wouldn’t expect much… most on council can’t even think for themselves. I would love to be wrong though….
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