Ft. St. James Formal Announcement on Opposition to Northern Gateway
Wednesday, August 1, 2012 @ 4:54 PM
Ft. St. James, B.C.- The District of Ft. St. James has issued the formal announcement on it’s decision to oppose the Northern Gateway twin pipeline project.
In a release issued this afternoon, the Mayor and Council say the decision to oppose the project was "based on the results of a public opinion poll, numerous presentations by Enbridge, concerns raised by a local Fort St. James Sustainability Group, conversations with members of the public and the personal opinions of Council members."
At the special meeting, Mayor MacDougall articulated Council’s rationale for speaking against the project: “We feel we have listened objectively to the presentations made by Enbridge, the Fort St. James Sustainability Group and the public. We have taken the time to research the desires of our community, and we believe we have done our due diligence. Our decision is based on our valuing of the land base and our fresh water sources. Of particular concern locally is the crossing of the Stuart River, which accommodates one of the largest sockeye salmon runs in the world, and Pitka Creek which flows into Stuart Lake. If anything should happen to the pipeline and spill into our river and lake, there will be no turning back the clock. There is no economic benefit that could outweigh the impact that would have on people’s lives here and the quality of life we enjoy.”
In June 2012 Council made the decision to hold a public opinion survey and open house for community members to share their thoughts on the project. Council’s objective was to see if there was desire from the public for Council to take a political stance on the project. The anonymous survey was distributed by hard copy and through online media over a period of 12 days. Of the 198 responses to the survey, a significant majority were in favour of Council adopting a stance against the Northern Gateway project. The concerns expressed in the survey responses focused on the potential for negative environmental impacts in the community, region and province.
In response to the news of Council’s announcement of a position on the project, Chief Fred Sam of the nearby Nak’azdli First Nation spoke about the decision. “We believe this is good news. This will strengthen the partnership between ourselves and the District, and we look forward to continuing to build this relationship with Fort St. James.”
District of Fort St. James Mayor and Council intend to register to speak at the final Public Hearings of the Joint Review Panel (JRP) in Prince George this fall, as well as submitting a letter of comment regarding their public opposition.
Comments
Bravo to the people, the counsel and the first nations people of Fort Saint James. Stewardship starts with one person and is spread by a mutual understanding of your environment and your community and how it effects us now and future residents down the road. We have one chance to get it right the first time and I feel energized by this group of people who have the fore sight to stand up for what is right. Well done folks.
Maybe our City counsel could learn a great deal from these folks. Looking after your community and your residents interests comes first, before big business and profit margins, cash kickbacks and special favors that seem to flow with the dark shadows of the “big business world”.
Wow! What an awesome leader! This is a great group of people with an awesome leader. This Fred Sam should run for Premier of the province! Imagine giving the people a say? Harper didn’t do that. He asked the people if they should take up a consensus and then did and now is not speaking for them but letting them speak! this man is my hero. Yeah to Nakazd’li people for having the guts to take a stand. I am going to stand alongside them. Can white people do that? I’d be proud to join them. Christie, you had better get behind these people. I believe they are a force to reckon with!
Its good to see a Mayor and Council who have the guts to do what they think is right!
Good to see, really good to see. Maybe Prince George can do the same now, Vanderhoof too!
Bravo to all the people in Ft. St. James.
Good to see, really good to see. Maybe Prince George can do the same now, Vanderhoof too!
Bravo to all the people in Ft. St. James.
Ah, sorry about that.
Just to clarify western2’s comment, it was not Chief and Council who have publically opposed the Northern Gateway project this afternoon. Rather, it was Mayor MacDougall and the Council of the District of Fort St James.
Good decision and way to take a stand, FSJ! :)
Western 2, I think you misunderstood the article. It was our mayor and council of Fort St. James that said they stand in opposition to the Enbridge pipeline after having consulted with the residents of Fort St. James, and folks in the surrounding area.
Nakâazdli First Nation, represented by Chief Fred Sam, stated its opposition some time ago.
Both are taking a stand. Chief Sam and mayor macDougal and thier councils and their communities are all to be congratulated for thier courageous stand. They will be put under great pressure to give in now. I wish them my best and I stand with them.
This is great news… maybe Vanderhoof can do the same to save the much endangered sturgeon from possible extinction if Gateway ever leaked into the Stewart/Nechako basin.
Bravo!!! Good for the council and mayor of Fort St. James.
Is this based on facts or emotion. Wouldn’t be politics.
Facts ….. the fact is, the Council voted on it and that was the result.
Do yo see anything in the law that says they have to say why they voted the way they did?
No?
Good! I would not want to change that. It is quick and easy this way …. ;-)
Hey, while we are at it ….. why did someone or something create the universe? On fact or on emotion ….
Sit out in the sun and ponder that for a while … ;-)
As Trudeau once correctly reiterated ….. “the Universe is unfolding as it should” …
So no facts needed on anything that the council does, yep right smart.
FACT….Enbridge re-started their Bitumen pipeline in Michigan 2 times after a pressure loss was detected at their Edmonton control station.
FACT …the 2 starts dumped 81% of the Bitumen spill after original pressure drop was detected.
FACT ….Enbridge has an average of 6.5 spills per month over the last 10 years.
FACT ….the NTSB stated that Enbridge response to the Kalamazoo spill in Michigan was like the “Keystone Cops”.
You got any facts Seamutt?, yep right “smart”?
Just in case some people overlook “reiterate” I feel it necessary to point out that the line about the “universe unfolding as it should” was lifted from the “Desiderata”. The “Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann, American writer, penned circa 1927.
Turdeau just “borrowed” the phrase. Let’s give credit where due.
Here are some facts also â
Taken from Enbridgeâs Documents â
Check out River Control Points for Stuart River on this link.
[url]http://www.northerngateway.ca/project-details/regulatory-consultation-and-application/SearchForm?Search=control+points&action_results=Go
The control point for spilled bitumen as per their document starts on page 169 â
The Objective is to : Intercept oil and minimize downstream movement.
It is – km Distance downstream from pipeline crossing to CP:49.3
It is at Sturgeon point near Vanderhoof. The Stuart River Provincial Park is involved in this area. The B.C. government site describes the park as â Special Features -River corridor provides critical habitat for Chinook and Sockeye salmon, and red-listed White Sturgeon. Also a high value wildlife corridor for ungulates: includes deer and elk winter ranges.
The Spill can also enter the Stuart River from the Necoslie River and Stuart Lake via Pitka Creek where a pumping station is located. If a spill entered Stuart Lake from Pitka Creek it would cover the shores of the lake.
Mayor and Council were aware of these and many more facts. They are to be commended for making their decision based on facts.
I too commend Mayor and Council of Ft. St. James. They are truly looking out for their community and representing their constituents well IMHO, unlike our current Mayor and Council when it comes to Enbridge.
Taxed Out chill out dude your going to blow a geyser yourself I am looking for facts on how this pipeline is going to be built. Yep so smart.
seamutt – Badly, and full of problems is your answer. Check their application on their website and then look at their history. A good place to start is with the NTSB report. This company spells safety with the letters – profit first – and be damned about the rest. Finding the facts requires a little effort ….. Lies and empty prommises from them are the easiest to find.
Ok LakeLover I am looking for information on how this pipeline, this pipeline will be built, that is what I am looking for. Get it. Show me these facts, simple question, hey guys you are all getting your shorts in a knot over nothing.
All I have seen is small bits of information on the construction.
Seamutt – I repeat myself – go to the Enbridge site and read their application. In particular Volume 3. That is all there is at this time. They will give more details only after approval.
They have said many things to the media to try to win approval but all that is legal is their application.
http://www.northerngateway.ca/project-details/regulatory-consultation-and-application/
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