It’s just a sham of a process. Just rubber stamp it so we can see real protests begin. It appears pretty evident that most of “the people” whom the govt supposedly work for don’t want this.

I posted this on the Friday Free for All last week, but I think it’s worth repeating.

I try to listen to allot of talk radio out here in Ottawa and whenever the Northern Gateway Pipeline comes up (generally on very right wing oriented shows), there seems to be a very clear focus to make it sound as though the only people who are opposed to the pipeline are extreme left wing environmentalist groups from the US. There is always lots of talk about how they are spending millions of dollars to oppose the pipeline, how they are causing disruption to the hearings, how they are trying to sabotage the interests of Canada, etc.

I’ve yet to hear anyone talk about how average residents in BC are also opposed to the pipeline. It just doesn’t get any press. Anyone who is opposed is automatically labeled as someone who wants to destroy the economy, someone who doesn’t want to create jobs, etc. I’m not sure if it is simply ignorance or a more deliberate attempt to try and sway popular opinion on a subject that is out of sight and out of mind to so many people.

Ben, I’m not sure if you have considered this or not, but perhaps you could leverage your networks and influence to have some dialogue with some of the other media persons that you are engaged with across the country. I know I’ve heard you interview folks from across the country on various topics before and maybe this would be a good opportunity to spark some dialogue with others who may not have the entire story of what is actually happening in BC.

I really don’t get the sense there is much balance in regards to how this issue is being presented in major media outlets and centres on this side of the country. The only thing that will stop this pipeline is considerable public pressure and to get that you have to have to get help from where the population resides.

NMG: “I really don’t get the sense there is much balance in regards to how this issue is being presented in major media outlets and centres on this side of the country.”

You’re right, there’s no balance. The CBC and most media outlets are anti-pipeline. And the people are eating it up with a spoon.

It is not only this issue NMG, most media is privately owned and many have a right wing slant. In the US there is an entire network devoted to the right wing agenda in Fox news. Other media barons such as Rupert Murdock that control a large portion of media, lean it towards a right bias. Locally Global leans to the right as well. A decade ago every news cast at 6 pm on Global was dominated in the first 10-15 minutes on how the NDP were destroying our province. Over the last decade while our province was getting completely destroyed by the BC Liberals this news was buried under the latest car accident or other localized story from the lower mainland on primetime.

Think about the BC Rail scandal and think back a decade ago if this had happened at that time if Global would have dropped the story as it appears they have now.

Johhny, do you open your eyes when you wake up in the morning? It is apparently apparent to most, that the fix on Northern Gateway has been in from the beginning. A telling sign of the Harper mantra was displayed for listeners to Meisner’s radio show to hear last October when Cariboo MP Dick Harris unwittingly (dimwittedly) responded to a statement Ben made. He asked, do you know that most people in this part of the province are dead against the pipeline project? Harris responded the he didn’t “give a damn” if they’re opposed. The project was going ahead and would bring great benefits to British Columbia. Telling. And I can almost hear the first Conservative caucus meeting after the May 2011 election. We have a majority and come hell or high water, we’re moving ahead with our agenda. Last week, Flaherty announces, IN A BUDGET SPEECH THAT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH GATEWAY, we are hereby restricting reviews of major resource projects to 24 months “so we don’t undermine the ability of the regulator to complete the review in a comprehensive way.” Oh, and by the way, that’s retroactive and includes Gateway. So, the hearings that have been held so far are taken off that 24 months, leaving whatever is left for “review”. COMPREHENSIVE review. By a panel that includes two Alberta oil industry guys and a fellow from Ontario who doesn’t know a wellhead from a blackhead. Today (monday)there’s supposed to be a review panel hearing in Bella Bella and guess what, there are protesters, so the panel “can’t possibly hold that hearing for fear of”….of what, an uprising? Gimme a break. Totally impartial parties stated there was no threat. You want to chuck your unsubstantiated junk at the CBC. Sunday they carried an interview with Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, who said (quote, ok Johnny?) “we want everyone who has a direct interest in a particular project to have the time (to speak at review hearings). What we don’t need, frankly, is thousands of people belonging to the same organization coming and repeating the same packaged presentation.” Get it Johnny, Sort of like city council saying three people can file their response forms opposing the dike borrowing, but we don’t want a bunch of people repeating that same message. Of course the feds are trying to restrict the opposition to the pipeline, BECAUSE THE NOISE IF GETTING DEAFENING. But hey, you likely favour Harper shipping oil out of country, and Clark shipping raw logs out of country, because its so great for us, right? By the way, there IS Left leaning media, and there IS Right leaning media, and there are still one or two honest reporters, but open your eyes to the fact that that is what’s going on today, and you’d better keep your wits about you just to stay balanced. Those who are willing to sell out for a buck see that $$$ sign on everyone’s forehead.

It is hard getting correct honest information and the yelling from super rich greenie organizations worth hundreds of millions whos top people make in excess of half a million are more righteous to listen to than government, ya right. The more chest thumping these outfits do the more donations they get from the sheep.

One Democrat, I really wanted to read through your 1000 word run on sentence LITTERED with CAPS, but I decided not to. Nothing personal.

Not at all Johnny. Some open their eyes, some don’t.
Seamutt. I could care less what “greenie organizations and their top people” make. If people want to toss their money that way, or any way, that’s their choice. What they don’t have a choice about is paying taxes to Ottawa. And if you’re fine with democratic rights being stomped on by government, not greenies but supposedly government operating within a democracy, then fill your boots. You’d likely vote for them again.

Hey Gordo–which name do you like to go by Gordo or Johnnybelt?

Are the LIBS paying you JoBe to poo poo on people who may have an opinion that doesn’t agree with you? Nothing personal, just curious?

I guess the JRP people are a bunch of pansies. “It was a peaceful protest” stated the RCMP spokesperson in Bella Bella, on CBC radio news today. I am sure the cops would be impartial on this one, so the panel people are obviously afraid of a few people who have the guts to be seen in public, legally declaring they are not in favour of the B.S.
This process is beginning to look like a sham alright.
metalman.

PS Seamutt. I bet you are gonna enjoy paying those pensions to the little oinkers at the trough in Victoria and Ottawa.
“Chest thumping” “Sheep” bah bah bah

hammy: “Are the LIBS paying you JoBe to poo poo on people who may have an opinion that doesn’t agree with you? Nothing personal, just curious?”

You must be new around here. If you had been around a while, you would have seen that people have called me tons of names, attempted to intimidate and shut me up, simply because I have a different opinion.

Even you are making silly statements about the Libs paying me, and someone else in this thread is calling me ‘Gordo’. Are you that blind?

Just curious. For all those who are for this pipeline and subsequent tanker traffic along the coast. If it was proven 70% of the people in BC were against this project, would it sit well with you if ottawa simply tried to pushed it through anyways regardless of the wishes of the people in the province in which you reside?
I understand that every decision otttawa makes or any political party in power makes is not going to be popular with everyone, but shouldn’t they listen if there is a resounding NO to the people who will be most affected? Are you in favour of stomping on the rights of those most affected just to benefit the rest of the country? (And I use the word benefit loosely, because I think the benefits to Canada and especially BC are going to be far less than what is being said.)