The first meeting of what Environment Minister Catherine McKenna calls our “pan-Canadian team on Climate Change” is now over. She has been closeted with environmental ministers from the provinces and territories, McKenna called it “the most positive meeting that has taken place in a very long time. Though short on details, the Minister said “We all know we have to act together”and alluded to “real opportunities” in the clean tech sector. To distill her message down to the three words which she did not actually use, McKenna asks Canadians to trust the Government
Local First Nations set up Rocky Mountain Fort Camp before Christmas. There were six to eight members of the newly formed Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land sleeping there last night. Spokesperson Art Napoleon said First Nations originally talked about taking a stand near the site of the proposed Site C Dam, but B.C. Hydro’s work crews moved too fast. The once pristine forest that stood there has been destroyed. So First Nations decided to block this most recent perceived violation of Treaty 8 by setting up Rocky Mountain Fort Camp. BC Hydro employees have already scouted the camp. They could be preparing to seek an injunction, but this will not make the First Nations move. Treaty 8 Stewards of the Land are prepared to be arrested.
A Former Peace River Regional District Director arrested at Site C yesterday. Arthur Hadland told the Alaska Highway News that the B.C. Government is “treating us like a colony here. I think there’s a gradual awakening to the fact we’ve got a public utility that’s out of control.” He was one of three people arrested for blocking the entrance to the construction site Wednesday.
After 23 years of attempting to bring about change on the state and national levels, Daphne Wysham came to the conclusion that the last bastion of hope in the fight against the fossil fuel industry was at the local level. America’s mayors and city councils are much more accountable for health and safety of their constituents. She focused her attention on the Pacific Northwest, where there are currently 27 proposed coal, oil and gas by rail projects. This initially brought her into conflict with Portland Mayor Charles Hales, who subsequently became an apostle for cities transitioning to a fossil fuel free economy.
The most recent of British Columbia’s 21 proposed LNG facilities has just been taken off the books. Between 60 and 70 LNG Carriers were to have loaded up at Tsawwassen every year. Though it is not known how many would have gone to band members, there were 50 to 100 full time jobs. Only at a vote taken at 11 PM on December 15, 53% of Tsawwassen First Nation voted against LNG development.
