By Roy L Hales
As only British Columbian town held a plebiscite, there is a sense in which they spoke for all of us. I hope the message goes straight to the Premier’s office. Kitimat Votes NO! to the Northern Gateway Pipeline
The question, as phrased on the ballot:
By Roy L Hales
When they were granted a license last November, the regulations stated Trans Mountain “must contribute to the scientific knowledge of the protected area(s).” They were conducting a feasibility study that was the preliminary step to building a pipeline. Now the legality of pipeline research in BC’s parks is being questioned .
Four months passed before the BC Government passed legislation, Bill 4: The Park Amendment Act, that made industrial research in public parks legal. It was rushed through the legislature with no public consultation.
By Roy L Hales
Rare Birds was birthed out of friendship. One of the inspirations was the film “How to boil a Frog,” that Mary Jordan and Val MacKay-Greer saw at the 2011 Kamloops Film Festival. The film maker had wanted to bring hope to his daughter’s generation. It brought forth hope in Mary and Val as well. They were attracted to a communal lifestyle.
“What’s stopping us,” Val said.
By Roy L Hales
The Clark government introduced legislation dividing the province’s Agriculture Land Reserve in half. In the South, “decisions will continue to be made on the basis of the original principle of preserving agricultural land.” They want freedom to reconsider how parcels the Northern section will be used. A news release entitled “Food for Thought” explained this by saying 85% of agricultural revenues came from a mere 10% of the land. It looks like the BC Government wants to frack BC’s Agricultural Land Reserve in the north.
Opposition MLA Vicki Huntington had stronger words, “Without consultation, this government has introduced legislation to remove 90 per cent of BC’s farmland from the ALC’s (Agricultural Land Commission) independent mandate to protect farmland and farming.”
By Roy L Hales
A symbolic fight for British Columbia’s future is underway. A little town, with less than 10,000 people, is being given the choice denied to the rest of us. A plebiscite in which there will be some, possibly many, Kitimat Residents saying No! to a pipeline.
