If your only source of information is Opinion 250, CBC or the local rag, you could not be faulted for thinking these groups are peaceful. They indeed are not peaceful. ie. Greenpeace breaking in to the refinery in Bunaby.
If foreign organisations were threatening, blockading and sabotaging Canadian energy companies you all would want CSIS and the RCMP investigating them.
The fact is, most of these so called ‘peaceful’ Canadian groups are heavily funded by foreign organisations whose sole purpose is to sabotge our energy exports. So I for one cheer on the authorities for at least ‘spying’ on them.

I am not affiliated with anyone but my children and the land I love. How insulting (and ridiculous) to think that protesting something which concerns me makes me a)’not peaceful’ or b)foreign-funded. I am your neighbour and I do not deserve to spied on simply because I hold a different opinion of how this land and its people should be regarded.

Big money rules the day, Harper will not stop the pipeline will be built and millions to be spent on spinning the reason and benefits to Canada

“So I for one cheer on the authorities for at least ‘spying’ on them”

At one time, women could not vote in this country and protested for the right to do so. Other injustices have been protested by people of good conscience, both peacefully and with violence when faced with the strong arm of the state. We should all be grateful to those who stand and march and put themselves in the line of fire for causes that affect all of us.

You should be ashamed for siding with the oil companies whose affiliations with international interests are a far greater threat to Canadians than any loose connections protestors may have.

So is there proof of no foreign money behind thee so called peaceful groups. Outfits like Tides US do not disclose their funding and this money makes it into Tides Canada.

Countries like Saudi Arabia see Canada as direct competition. Also with the threats that have been made by so called peaceful groups and individuals the RCMP and CSIS would be negligent not to have a look.

Here is an idea of the big money in environmentalism and its influence and this is just Tides Canada. The information in this particular article is a little dated but still applicable.

http://fairquestions.typepad.com/rethink_campaigns/ten-reasons-to-inquire-re-tcf.html

The fact is, most of these so called ‘peaceful’ Canadian groups are heavily funded by foreign organisations whose sole purpose is to sabotge our energy exports.

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The fact is, most of these so called ‘responsible’ oil companies are global entities whose sole purpose is to maximize shareholder value and exploit Canadian resources at the expense of our domestic interests.

See how easy that was?

Hmmm? The RCMP and CSIS working together? Well, given their track record and results of the Air India investigation adventure a while back, I really don’t see anything to worry about in this caper.

So does that make any of these so called peaceful groups any more moral.

So how easy that was.

We might want to ask the question; who had the RCMP and CSIS spying on environmental groups and first nations opposed to Enbridge?

The answer is in the following Globe and Mail article excerpt:

“The BCCLA said it appears that covert agents monitored meetings and other activities of the pipeline opponents who participated in the National Energy Board hearings into the proposed Northern Gateway project, and that CSIS and the RCMP then shared their intelligence with the oil industry and the NEB.”

Read that last part again “people” CSIS and the RCMP then shared their intelligence with the oil industry and the National Energy Board!!!

Any doubt that Big Oil & Gas are running our country???

Time to wake up sheeple!!!

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/csis-rcmp-accused-of-spying-on-pipeline-opponents/article16726444/

Anyone who makes threats, veiled or otherwise should be investigated.

What small minds the Harper Conservatives and Big Oil and Gas have! They actually think environmentalists and First Nations are the only parties opposing Enbridge.

“Among those objecting to the Northern Gateway pipeline project as proposed are:

1. The Official Opposition in the House of Commons;
2. The Province of British Columbia;
3. The Union of B.C. Municipalities;
4. First Nations through whose territories the pipeline will pass;
5. Major Trade Unions, including Canada’s largest;
6. The municipal governments of Terrace, Prince Rupert, Victoria and the Regional District of the Queen Charlotte;
7. The B.C. Wilderness Tourism Association;
8. Various non-governmental environmental organizations.

This opposition does not look like radical green eco-terrorists out to destroy business or the Canadian way of life. It looks to me like a broad cross-section of serious citizens with concerns they need to express, and you know what? THEY HAVE THE DEMOCRATIC RIGHT TO DO SO!!!

“So does that make any of these so called peaceful groups any more moral?”

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I don’t know, I suppose one would have to evaluate each group on their own merit in order to decide.

I must say though, I do get a little turned off by the government when they start calling their own citizens eco-terrorists simply because they disagree with a pipeline proposal.

I guess diversity of opinion is no longer acceptable in this country?

NMG: “I must say though, I do get a little turned off by the government when they start calling their own citizens eco-terrorists simply because they disagree with a pipeline proposal.”

To be fair, the government is not the only one throwing labels around. The eco groups are just as guilty.

Is the government everyone who opposes eco terrorists.

Peaple#1 do you advocate violence then? Careful you maybe on the watch list.

Remember Neil Youngs dog and poney show. I wonder how natives feel about the chief being paid off to sit up there with young. Token chief for the show. Here I thought we were beyond that racism.

Ooooh, so much attention today :-)

Hey JB give us some examples of labels that the eco groups throw around that comes close to the “terrorism” label they have been tagged with by Mr. Harpercrite.

Yeah, I thought not! Thanks for playing.

“To be fair, the government is not the only one throwing labels around. The eco groups are just as guilty”

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It’s not fair at all.

Eco groups speak for people who support their views. Oil companies do the same. I can accept that and I understand it. I can also discount what they are saying and accept that it will have some bias.

The government, on the other hand, should be speaking for ALL Canadians and not towing the line of one group or the other. Language like “eco-terrorist” when used in the context of people disagreeing with a particular project, is inflammatory, ignorant and completely counterproductive to the process of trying to determine if this project should go ahead or not.

NMG: “The government, on the other hand, should be speaking for ALL Canadians and not towing the line of one group or the other.”

How do you speak for ALL Canadians, when everyone has different views? No matter which side of the equation you might be on, you will be in disagreement with somebody.

There have been plenty of threats (even on this board) from people who are claiming to stop the Enbridge pipeline by whatever means necessary if it should be approved. If that’s not an eco-terrorist threat, I don’t know what is.

NMG, being inflammatory, ignorant and completely counterproductive is the Conservative way!

Remember the proposed Internet Spying Bill?
They said; anyone opposed to it is siding with the pedophiles!

Calling Canadian citizens, who oppose the Northern Gateway pipeline, “terrorists” is an unethical and sickening attempt at justifying spying activities. If these people were such a “treat” to Canada’s security and safety, why was the surveillance information handed over to the oil industry, and not to our government?

I think we all know the answer to that question! All the signs that we are living in a “petro-state” are there. Time to wake up “people”!

“Threat”

Peeps: “Calling Canadian citizens, who oppose the Northern Gateway pipeline, “terrorists” is an unethical and sickening attempt at justifying spying activities.”

Peacefully opposing the pipeline is one thing. Saying that you will do whatever it takes to stop the pipeline if it is approved is another thing. Sorry Peeps.

““The RCMP and CSIS have absolutely no business gathering information on people who are engaged in peaceful, democratic activity,” he continued. “That is a perversion of our system and it is harmful to democracy, because it can intimidate, it can chill people from wanting to express themselves and participate in public debate in the first place.” ~ BCCLA executive director Josh Paterson.

Sorry JB, we still live in a democratic society, much to your chagrin apparently.

No doubt, this Harper Government will be found guilty of “illegally” spying on it’s own citizens, wow… what a despicable government we have!

There is nothing wrong or unlawful about ‘Eco groups’ speaking for those who support their views, or engaging in peaceful protest against Enbridge or anything else.

But there is a history of some of these groups going beyond that, and resorting to acts of vandalism and violence to try to make their points.

Most of that has happened in the United States, and it has had some very serious consequences for innocent people there.

One young millworker in northern California had most of his face destroyed when a ‘spiked’ redwood log came in contact with a mill’s bandsaw, after some Eco group used that method to try to save some trees they didn’t want cut. Trees that the State would not move to protect, and the owner of which had every legal right to log.

And we haven’t been immune from that kind of thing spilling over into Canada. Remember the “Squamish Five” that dynamited a BC Hydro substation on Vancouver Island a number of years ago in protest against their peculiar notion of what was harming the environment?

Of course CSIS or the RCMP should turn their findings of any moves towards suspected eco-terrorism over to the oil industry. If you were being threatened by actual eco-terrorism wouldn’t you want to know about it, so that you could take steps to protect your property and possibly deter what might happen from happening? To do otherwise would be gross negligence on the part of these agencies.

Since when did keeping an eye on people become ”spying’? A lot of people wish they kept better tabs on those responsible for damage and destruction like sept 11th for example.

If you are worried that someone next to you may be an informant – what exactly are you up to?

Opposition to the Northern Gateway pipeline is so wide spread they don’t even have the “social license” to think about proceeding.

So why all the spying? Unless of course they are thinking about going ahead with the project despite the lack of a “social license”. Wouldn’t put it past that pipeline company and our undemocratic Harper Government!!!

Peeps:-“No doubt, this Harper Government will be found guilty of “illegally” spying on it’s own citizens, wow… what a despicable government we have!”
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ALL governments do exactly the same thing, People#1.

If they didn’t, and violence and vandalism were the result, and innocent people got hurt, they’d be mercilessly pilloried for not doing their job.

I really find it kind of rich that you, of all people, fail to realise this.

Was it not you that led the chorus calling for WorkSafeBC to engage in MORE inspections of EVERY workplace? If that’s not an example of an agency of government doing more ‘spying’ on its own citizens, then I’d sure like to know what is!

How do you *know* opposition to Northern Gateway is as widespread as you seem to *think* it is, People#1?

Last time I looked there’s still a Citizen’s Initiative and Referendum process in place here in BC. Bill Vander Zalm proved it works. It rid us of the HST.

If you are so sure the majority of British Columbians are as opposed to this project as you think they are, then why not use the ‘democratic process’ already in place to get it stopped? Shouldn’t be THAT hard, should it?

Here is one for you peeps, the Eco lobby is labelling the RCMP and CSIS as ‘spies’ right in this article. Thought they didn’t throw around labels…

Social license is solely not limited to ‘Eco groups’ definition of it, or yours. If you are a member of the local community or stakeholder and can affect the profitability of the enterprise or project – then you can affect social license. If you have no bearing on the profitability but simply don”t like a project on its merits you have no affect on social license of that project.

socred: “There is nothing wrong or unlawful about ‘Eco groups’ speaking for those who support their views, or engaging in peaceful protest against Enbridge or anything else.

But there is a history of some of these groups going beyond that, and resorting to acts of vandalism and violence to try to make their points. “

Bingo! I’m not sure why Peeps doesn’t get that.

Peeps: “Sorry JB, we still live in a democratic society, much to your chagrin apparently.”

A ‘democratic society’ doesn’t give anyone the inherent right to commit vandalism or resort to violence when they don’t get their way. Nice try though.

@ JB; with respect to Enbridge Northern Gateway, name one act of vandalism or violence! Yeah that’s what we thought, thanks for playing.

@ socredible; Enbridge does not have the social license to build the pipeline that’s why the attached news article excerpt states;

“The job now falls squarely on the shoulders of Enbridge to build upon the regulatory foundation set forth by the NEB decision and Transport Canada’s 2012 review of the state of preparedness for marine oil spills.

“These are just some of the elements and approaches that will allow Enbridge to obtain the “social license” required for Northern Gateway to proceed.” ~ Jim Prentice; senior executive vice-president and vice-chairman of CIBC and a former minister of Indian and northern affairs.

Hmm… so like I said; if Enbridge does not have the social license to build the pipeline, why all the spying? Makes me think they are going to try and ram it through despite significant opposition to it!

Yes, I can see this being Harper’s Waterloo.

socredible states; “How do you *know* opposition to Northern Gateway is as widespread as you seem to *think* it is, People#1?”

The BC Chamber of Commerce had it’s poll that showed just under 50% of British Columbians supported Enbridge, now there is a more recent poll, completed last month, that shows a majority of British Columbians are against the Enbridge pipeline. Is this proof enough for you socredible?

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Majority+British+Columbians+oppose+Northern+Gateway+pipeline+poll/9469513/story.html

Peeps: “@ JB; with respect to Enbridge Northern Gateway, name one act of vandalism or violence!

The pipeline hasn’t been approved yet and construction hasn’t started. Right now, there are just threats. I didn’t say otherwise.

“The BC Chamber of Commerce had it’s poll that showed just under 50% of British Columbians supported Enbridge, now there is a more recent poll, completed last month, that shows a majority of British Columbians are against the Enbridge pipeline.”

C’mon Peeps, be honest with everyone. Here’s the full headline from Peep’s link above.

“Majority of British Columbians oppose Northern Gateway pipeline: poll

Results not surprising in survey commissioned by environmental groups”

Big surprise.

Umm.. JB this is why I said the BC Chamber of Commerce had their poll, now it’s the other side’s turn.

You completely missed the fact that both polls show that the majority of British Columbians are opposed to the pipeline!

Think about it, the Chamber of Commerce poll states that just under 50% of British Columbians support the pipeline; that means the majority of British Columbians oppose the pipeline! That’s two polls with the same results, BIG SURPRISE!!! :-)

Is this proof enough for you socredible?

So how come CSIS and the RCMP are only spying on the environmentalists and First Nations? Shouldn’t they be spying on the majority of British Columbians as well as the list of 8 other parties opposing the pipeline in my March 30 2014 12:23 PM comment? Hmm… curious…

Like I said, Peeps, if you think you can get the votes to stop it, launch an Initiative Petition like Vander Zalm did with the HST. Democracy does work, if you care to use it. And most of the people are actually on your side.

Personally, when ALL the facts are made known, I think more British Columbians will either be for it or completely ambivalent as to whether it’s built or not than the vocal minority who want it rejected on some spurious nutty environmentalist notion that it’s going to spill oil all over everything.

It’s main detriment to us will be ‘inflation’ ~ its construction will raise the price of consumer goods and services in BC. Inflation always comes first under the guise of prosperity. Which it’s really anything but.

If we had a government that understood that, which we don’t ~ and their opposition in the Legislature are even more dense in that regard than the current government is ~ they could take steps to mitigate that, and we could all actually get some real economic benefits from it.

People#1, for the umpteenth time:-“So how come CSIS and the RCMP are only spying on the environmentalists and First Nations? Shouldn’t they be spying on the majority of British Columbians as well as the list of 8 other parties opposing the pipeline in my March 30 2014 12:23 PM comment? Hmm… curious…”
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Because, Peeps, CERTAIN ‘environmental activitsts’ and CERTAIN ‘First Nation’ activists have a previously known propensity to try to get their way through acts of violence, vandalism, intimidation, and civil disobedience that go beyond the realm of peaceful, legitimate protest.

That’s the difference between them and the majority of other British Columbians and the 8 other parties, whoever they may be.

By the way, Peeps, if you were in charge of WorkSafeBC, and conscious of the need to stay within your operating budget, who would you be spying on? Sawmills that have been repeatedly inspected since the two mills exploded and have complied with all the requirements mandated afterwards and where dust hasn’t been found to be an ongoing problem, or those that haven’t complied, where there is still too much dust, and it could be a problem?

Hey Contractor, what you said makes a hell of a lot of sense, common sense that is.
Anything the BCCLA says has to be verified by someone with common sense and good judgement.

Civil disobedience is probably where this will go.

http://globalnews.ca/news/1216463/burnaby-mayor-says-hell-stand-in-front-of-a-bulldozer-to-stop-kinder-morgan-expansion/

Might want to add city mayors to your list of activists notsocredible.

I’m certainly glad that none of my friends were injured in the pipeline bombings that occurred a few years ago east of Dawson Creek.

“Six bombings — all targeting a natural gas pipeline and gas wells operated by the Encana Corporation — would eventually rock the Tomslake area, near the city of Dawson Creek, 750 kilometres northeast of Vancouver.

The first blast occurred Oct. 11, 2008, followed by another five days later on Oct. 16 and a third on Oct. 31. The next bomb blew up on Jan. 4, 2009, and two more explosions would follow, three days apart, the following July.

There have been no injuries, and not all of the explosions ruptured the pipeline or stopped the flow of gas. But the final bomb came closest to causing injury when it blew up just 500 metres away from a group of workers.”

Would I be offended if the individuals responsible for the bombings were found and arrested as a result of “spying’ by either CSIS or the RCMP? Not very likely!!

Hey Peeps, if you ever get out of college and if you ever leave your Mom’s basement, perhaps I can make a few phone calls and get you a job in the natural gas industry! I’m sure that you fit right in with this industry that provides “cleaner” and “greener” energy! Just think about how rewarding your work would be while you impress your co-workers with your views and expert opinions on absolutely everything!!

Socred says….”Because, Peeps, CERTAIN ‘environmental activitsts’ and CERTAIN ‘First Nation’ activists have a previously known propensity to try to get their way through acts of violence, vandalism, intimidation, and civil disobedience that go beyond the realm of peaceful, legitimate protest”.
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Govt’s laugh in the face of “peaceful, legitimate protest”.

So “acts of violence, vandalism, intimidation, and civil disobedience” outside the law are better options, then Dragonmaster?

Governments don’t “laugh” then, do they? They react to them, whether the cause the perpetrators have is just or not. ‘Action’ is met with ‘reaction’ ~ often of the same, or worse, nature. And more often than not it’s the ‘innocent’ who get hurt the most, and in ways worse than the ‘guilty’.

There is an old saying, that “..truly good ends should always be capable of attainment through good means”.

We already have “good means” for stopping the construction of this pipeline completely within the law, ‘democratically’, IF that’s what the majority of British Columbians really want.

That was proven, against considerable odds, when a disgraced former Premier organised and led a successful campaign that completely crossed ‘Party’ lines and united otherwise permanent political adversaries in a common cause to overturn a hated tax.

No one was in government was “laughing” after the requisite number of signatures were collected, peacefully and legally, in every riding to indicate the extent of the opposition to the HST.

They were visibly on the defensive, adding daily to the litany of lies they’d previously used why having that tax was so important, only by then it was too late. Even a promise made to cut it to 5% if only we’d let them keep it wasn’t flying with the public at that point.

So go right ahead if you really want the same kind of society that prevails in other countries where terrorism is used by opposing sides to try to have their own way. You’ll reap exactly what you’ve sown.

socredible, VERY well said!

“acts of violence, vandalism, intimidation, and civil disobedience” have not happened with respect to the Northern Gateway pipeline, so why is the Harper Government getting CSIS and the RCMP to spy on it’s own citizens who oppose this pipeline?

There is always the possibility of anything happening anywhere, does that justify spying on Canadian Citizens, just in case it could happen?

No doubt Harper’s spying activities will be found to be illegal and unconstitutional, just like our provincial Liberal Government, always on the wrong side of the law at the end of court cases.