LOCALS IN Terrace and Kitimat are planning rallies Nov. 16 in opposition of Enbridge’s planned Northern Gateway oil pipeline as part of a national campaign called “Defend our Climate, Defend our Communities.”
“We support the Coastal First Nations’ [oil] tanker ban and the Save the Fraser declaration, and will stand with First Nations to defend our communities against the Northern Gateway Pipeline, supertankers on our coast, and Christy Clark’s deals with Alison Redford and Big Oil,” says Anne Hill, a local organizer.
BC premier Christy Clark and Alberta premier Alison Redford Nov. 5 reached a broad agreement in which Redford accepted Clark’s conditions that would allow for pipeline construction provided projects achieve stringent environmental and other conditions as well as First Nations approval.
Pipelines, however, fall under federal jurisdiction if they cross provincial boundaries and a federal review of the Northern Gateway proposal is to be submitted to the federal cabinet next month.
BC also wants a share of any pipeline’s economic benefits, something it would have to negotiate with pipeline companies and crude oil suppliers.
The local rally is being held at Brolly Square beginning at 3 p.m. while the Kitimat rally takes place in the Mount Elizabeth high school gym starting at 2 p.m.
Similar rallies are taking place in communities from Prince George to Prince Rupert.
