With Justin Trudeau promising the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will go ahead despite fierce opposition from Indigenous land protectors will he authorize the use of force to do so?
That’s a question Nation to Nation put to the political panel Thursday.
Trudeau is now pledging to help finance the project and pass new legislation to ensure the pipeline gets in the ground from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C.
Host Todd Lamirande put the question to each panelist, does that mean calling in the police or army?
“I think we all expect people to abide by the rule of law,” said Jonathan Wilkinson, parliamentary secretary to the minister of environment and climate change.
Wilkinson wouldn’t commit to what government will do to deal with land protectors who have said they refuse to let this pipeline be built.
Tensions are expected to only rise as construction is supposed to ramp up this summer.
There has already been over 140 people charged with breaking a court order to not block the gates of Kinder Morgan in Burnaby.
Kinder Morgan said 43 First Nations and Indigenous groups have signed deals with the company, but a number of others have not, including Coldwater, B.C.
The number of deals were up to 51 but Kinder Morgan said earlier this week eight First Nations didn’t ratify an agreement last year.
Many fear irreparable environmental damage from oil spills and extracting more fossil fuels from Alberta’s oil sands. The Liberal government has pledged $1.5 billion to protect the country’s oceans from the project’s resulting increase in oil tankers along the west coast.
“Lawful protests is certainly part of Canada’s democratic process and the rule of law needs to be respected,” said Cathy McLeod, the Conservative shadow minister for Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
One of those arrested and facing charges is Burnaby South NDP MP Kennedy Stewart who reminded the panel that Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr has already vowed once to use force.
Carr told a group of business people in Edmonton Dec. 1, 2016, just days after the government approved the project, that the army or police could be used to deal with so-called unlawful protests.
Carr apologized afterward saying he misspoke.
However, Stewart said Carr’s comments changed things for him.
“When the natural resources minister threatened to use the army on British Columbians then I realized this hit a different place,” said Stewart. “When you threaten to use the defence forces to push a project through against the will of communities, violating a constitution, ignoring consent then I think it takes the debate to a whole other level.”
Stewart tried to get Carr to confirm a few weeks ago in the House of Commons that the government wouldn’t use police or the army against land protectors.
“Will he stand in the House today and say that he will never do this, that it would never be considered, that he would not use the army and the police forces against British Columbians in their own communities, on the reserves, and in their municipalities?” said Stewart on Feb. 12.
Carr repeated he misspoke but didn’t say the government wouldn’t use force.
“Within a few days of having said it, I realized it would invoke images that were not healthy to the debate, and I apologized to Indigenous leaders,” Carr replied.
“I will say again, as I have said many times over many months, that I apologized and misspoke.”
Watch the full episode of Nation to Nation below:
Meanwhile, a parliamentary committee is studying Bill C-69 that promises to revamp the environmental assessment and regulatory process on resource extraction projects.
But it has sometimes been seen as a battle between jobs and the environment.
Conservative MP Robert Sopuck called the process “toxic” at the committee Wednesday.
But also there was Bill Namagoose, the executive director of the Grand Council of the Crees to give advice from their perspective.
Namagoose said they are not opposed to development as long as their rights are respected.
That means being part of it the decision-making process in their territory.
“We’re not observers, we’re not intervenors, we’re participants and that’s a treaty right we would like protected and recognized by this new legislation,” he said.
However, they are still trying to negotiate with the federal government to see that happen.
As for the committee hearing, Namagoose said he didn’t think the Liberals were interested in hearing much from the Grand Council of the Crees.
“I noticed the MPs didn’t ask me any questions or ask me to comment,” he said.
He said he tried to comment on some issues during the hearing but his microphone was turned off.
“The Liberal party seems to have this in control. They don’t want any Cree participation or that seems to be the objective and was clearly decided for the hearing that we would just read our statement and be ignored after,” he said.
Nation to Nation is traveling to British Columbia next week to dig more into the issues surrounding the Trans Mountain pipeline on both sides of the argument.
N2N.ca
– with APTN News files
Clearly our Prime Minister has lost his mind along with his credibility about Nation-to-Nation relationship. It has brought to light that Kinder Morgan is asking the Federal Liberal Government to give an additional $10billion for the Trans Mountain.
Sincerely,
Mr. Not-F*****g-Happy
Clearly our Prime Minister has lost his mind along with his credibility about Nation-to-Nation relationship. It has brought to light that Kinder Morgan is asking the Federal Liberal Government to give an additional $10billion for the Trans Mountain.
Sincerely,
Mr. Not-F*****g-Happy
I don’t want a civil war. There’s too many of them with tanks and big guns. Many people will die as martyrs defending BC lands n coast. Make it so difficult btwn. now and end of May 31st deadline that KM has to leave and hope they leave earlier. Women are warriors too, ask them to stage a scene for KinderMorgan to feel guilty about hurting a Nation esp. Its Mothers, grandmothers and girls. A scene of previous hardships from govts n colonialsm and genocide Surely the PM will not k8ll them. I hope. Go for their human heart. Could work?!?
I don’t want a civil war. There’s too many of them with tanks and big guns. Many people will die as martyrs defending BC lands n coast. Make it so difficult btwn. now and end of May 31st deadline that KM has to leave and hope they leave earlier. Women are warriors too, ask them to stage a scene for KinderMorgan to feel guilty about hurting a Nation esp. Its Mothers, grandmothers and girls. A scene of previous hardships from govts n colonialsm and genocide Surely the PM will not k8ll them. I hope. Go for their human heart. Could work?!?
I’m deeply concerned as a Canadian born person to see how many of us don’t have the time to see what our federal government represents. How can a democracy work for the people when our government lies and manipulates us like robots. And, it would not surprise me if the federal government cooks the books for big Oil or LNG or the investor of the day.
The rest of the world knows who we are as the tar sands have scared the earth so deeply that the sore can be seen from space. Something every Canadian should be ashamed about. Except those indigenous people that know the truth and care about issues rather than money. I am thankful for them everyday.
What happened to the electric car, solar energy, clear air and water. We are being used by the rich as the dispensable workforce. We get cancer and they get richer!?!
When I vote for a government I am voting for the issues that are important to me or my family and if we all voted that way…we would be living in a true democracy.
when was there aTRUE DEMOCRACY FOR NATIVE AND NO-NATIVE WHEN THEIR SET IN THERE WAYS TO DESTROY THE PLANET,,ALL FIFTY STATES- EUROPE-,ASIA-,SOUTH AMERICA- AFRICA-AND YES CANADA POLLUTED AND THATS TRUE DEMOCRACY( BUT I STILL LOVE MY PLANET EARTH)
I’m deeply concerned as a Canadian born person to see how many of us don’t have the time to see what our federal government represents. How can a democracy work for the people when our government lies and manipulates us like robots. And, it would not surprise me if the federal government cooks the books for big Oil or LNG or the investor of the day.
The rest of the world knows who we are as the tar sands have scared the earth so deeply that the sore can be seen from space. Something every Canadian should be ashamed about. Except those indigenous people that know the truth and care about issues rather than money. I am thankful for them everyday.
What happened to the electric car, solar energy, clear air and water. We are being used by the rich as the dispensable workforce. We get cancer and they get richer!?!
When I vote for a government I am voting for the issues that are important to me or my family and if we all voted that way…we would be living in a true democracy.
when was there aTRUE DEMOCRACY FOR NATIVE AND NO-NATIVE WHEN THEIR SET IN THERE WAYS TO DESTROY THE PLANET,,ALL FIFTY STATES- EUROPE-,ASIA-,SOUTH AMERICA- AFRICA-AND YES CANADA POLLUTED AND THATS TRUE DEMOCRACY( BUT I STILL LOVE MY PLANET EARTH)
taking lessons from little donny drumpf is he?
David Schindler, professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Alberta, says he thinks B.C.’s concerns about the Trans Mountain pipeline are legitimate.
“Somehow, science is being ignored in all this, I think the questions [about spills] are very legitimate.”
“We still don’t know how to get bitumen out from under the ice,” he said. “If it goes in to one of the major salmon rivers crossing B.C., we will just sit by and helplessly watch it go downstream.”
Also, in regard to Climate Change commitments, Schindler says, there is a lack of commitment to promises made during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris.
“From what I see, we are not taking this commitment very seriously at all,” he said. “We are taking a very ‘head in the sand’ approach to the problem.”
taking lessons from little donny drumpf is he?
Don’t you think refineries would have been built by the dozens of investors thought it was cost effective ? Also, what if Alberta and Saskatchewan joined to separate from Canada? maybe , have their own free trade deal ..America is a pretty strong allay, just ask Israel .
David Schindler, professor emeritus of ecology at the University of Alberta, says he thinks B.C.’s concerns about the Trans Mountain pipeline are legitimate.
“Somehow, science is being ignored in all this, I think the questions [about spills] are very legitimate.”
“We still don’t know how to get bitumen out from under the ice,” he said. “If it goes in to one of the major salmon rivers crossing B.C., we will just sit by and helplessly watch it go downstream.”
Also, in regard to Climate Change commitments, Schindler says, there is a lack of commitment to promises made during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris.
“From what I see, we are not taking this commitment very seriously at all,” he said. “We are taking a very ‘head in the sand’ approach to the problem.”
Don’t you think refineries would have been built by the dozens of investors thought it was cost effective ? Also, what if Alberta and Saskatchewan joined to separate from Canada? maybe , have their own free trade deal ..America is a pretty strong allay, just ask Israel .
Whatever it takes to get it built before this nonsense chases away more investment and Canadian living standards are in the toilet.(politicians excluded of course).
Exactly.
Whatever it takes to get it built before this nonsense chases away more investment and Canadian living standards are in the toilet.(politicians excluded of course).
Exactly.
I’m confused to why liberals are considered republicans in Canada. Opposite to the USA.
The Kock brothers are behind this as in most deals out of Texas. Russia seems to have a hand in this deal as well. You can be shure Dump has his tiny hands out. All these Dick-Traitors are trying to suck the earth dry of what is left to fill their pockets. The world is being run by evil greedy billionaires and wannabes.
These oil sands have already been assessed as dangerous and will pollute your environment.
These same people are pushing pipelines down every state and community throats in the U.S.
All the big boys have investments into what’s left of oil.
Dump stopped the progress in clean energy. Its always greed. Its always about oil.
We are killing each other to please the few elite over oil.
No such thing as peaceful war over oil. Start protecting yourselves because all these governments are out for themselves. They do not care whom they hurt or kill to get what they want.
It seems no place is safe to live honestly anymore.
Good luck in protecting each other. Its so sad life has come down to evil taking over.
I’m confused to why liberals are considered republicans in Canada. Opposite to the USA.
The Kock brothers are behind this as in most deals out of Texas. Russia seems to have a hand in this deal as well. You can be shure Dump has his tiny hands out. All these Dick-Traitors are trying to suck the earth dry of what is left to fill their pockets. The world is being run by evil greedy billionaires and wannabes.
These oil sands have already been assessed as dangerous and will pollute your environment.
These same people are pushing pipelines down every state and community throats in the U.S.
All the big boys have investments into what’s left of oil.
Dump stopped the progress in clean energy. Its always greed. Its always about oil.
We are killing each other to please the few elite over oil.
No such thing as peaceful war over oil. Start protecting yourselves because all these governments are out for themselves. They do not care whom they hurt or kill to get what they want.
It seems no place is safe to live honestly anymore.
Good luck in protecting each other. Its so sad life has come down to evil taking over.
How about Alberta refine the Bitumen prior to shipping. The issue is clean up.
There is no strategy to clean up a
Bitumen spill.
Refine it Notley. Create jobs and refine it, Remove the risks that we on the beautiful BC coast are protecting from you.
Due diligence on your end is required.
The point is start now with making sure he and his Liberals and the conservatives never get in again right now.
Who then are you suggesting you don’t like Trudeau and Andrew the conservatives want the pipeline I guess that leaves NDP. I have always voted NDP and am almost 70 so that is a lot of times. I usually vote for the man not the policies. I am very disappointed in the NDP leader as well as BC leader as well as Notley. Mr Singh said this yesterday on power and politics and could not answer why not. Will Trudeau bring in military . No Did he say he would No. will he bring the police if court deems him to be legally right. Probably so as BC premier says if courts rule against him he will still fight and we all know why. Have a great day.
Trudeau Jr. is following Trudeau Sr.’s footsteps with different yet similar slants. Trudeau Sr.’s controversial legacy was Petro-Canada in the 1970s – a very forceful/illegal possession of other people’s business properties. Trudeau Jr.’s controversial legacy is the Kinder-Morgan pipeline through Conservations and the toxication of the water supply of Indigenous lands. All for oil. One commodity, different slant.
How about Alberta refine the Bitumen prior to shipping. The issue is clean up.
There is no strategy to clean up a
Bitumen spill.
Refine it Notley. Create jobs and refine it, Remove the risks that we on the beautiful BC coast are protecting from you.
Due diligence on your end is required.
The point is start now with making sure he and his Liberals and the conservatives never get in again right now.
Who then are you suggesting you don’t like Trudeau and Andrew the conservatives want the pipeline I guess that leaves NDP. I have always voted NDP and am almost 70 so that is a lot of times. I usually vote for the man not the policies. I am very disappointed in the NDP leader as well as BC leader as well as Notley. Mr Singh said this yesterday on power and politics and could not answer why not. Will Trudeau bring in military . No Did he say he would No. will he bring the police if court deems him to be legally right. Probably so as BC premier says if courts rule against him he will still fight and we all know why. Have a great day.
Trudeau Jr. is following Trudeau Sr.’s footsteps with different yet similar slants. Trudeau Sr.’s controversial legacy was Petro-Canada in the 1970s – a very forceful/illegal possession of other people’s business properties. Trudeau Jr.’s controversial legacy is the Kinder-Morgan pipeline through Conservations and the toxication of the water supply of Indigenous lands. All for oil. One commodity, different slant.
Even Kinder-Morgan knows that there is no market for bitumen at the west coast tidewater. There is no need for additional bitumen transport capacity given that Keystone XL is going ahead. This is strictly an ego thing for Trudeau tempered by massive donations by KM to the LPC and fear of a NAFTA lawsuit.
The suggestion that the use of force would be sanctioned is infuriating. There are many possible calm and peaceful resolutions to this issue that will respect indigenous and non-indigenous communities. I have been concerned for some time that the aggressive and threatening rhetoric from both Trudeau and Notley would lead to sabotage and violence. The idea of using force against protesters will escalate the conflict.
If the Trudeau government sent in the army to attack protesters; I, for one, would consider this to be an act of war against British Columbians. Since when would the government of Canada start a civil war to prop up a Texas pipeline company of questionable ethics so they can build an unneeded pipeline for a product with a rapidly diminishing market. What the H— is going on ?
Lots of pre-election promises, most of them not kept. He finds money from our tax dollars to bail out a failing, foreign company from Texas, but he does not find money for our veterans, for badly needed housing, for improving education, for investing in clean energy which would help to protect our environment .
Perhaps he learned as a child from his father to say: “F..k you!”
Historically speaking, it is definitely NOT the case that people will abide by the rule of law, especially when it runs contrary to common sense, decency and fairness. That Trudeau expects compliance and passivity from Canadians as he pushes a dated, unfair, potentially catastrophic agenda, is not disturbing…its his threat to use force against his own people, that is most fucked…and then to stand at podiums around the world spreading his dainty parlance …just makes my blood boil. He is the same cut of cloth as his father: all purple pinstripe, this boy wonder.
Even Kinder-Morgan knows that there is no market for bitumen at the west coast tidewater. There is no need for additional bitumen transport capacity given that Keystone XL is going ahead. This is strictly an ego thing for Trudeau tempered by massive donations by KM to the LPC and fear of a NAFTA lawsuit.
The suggestion that the use of force would be sanctioned is infuriating. There are many possible calm and peaceful resolutions to this issue that will respect indigenous and non-indigenous communities. I have been concerned for some time that the aggressive and threatening rhetoric from both Trudeau and Notley would lead to sabotage and violence. The idea of using force against protesters will escalate the conflict.
If the Trudeau government sent in the army to attack protesters; I, for one, would consider this to be an act of war against British Columbians. Since when would the government of Canada start a civil war to prop up a Texas pipeline company of questionable ethics so they can build an unneeded pipeline for a product with a rapidly diminishing market. What the H— is going on ?
Lots of pre-election promises, most of them not kept. He finds money from our tax dollars to bail out a failing, foreign company from Texas, but he does not find money for our veterans, for badly needed housing, for improving education, for investing in clean energy which would help to protect our environment .
Perhaps he learned as a child from his father to say: “F..k you!”
Historically speaking, it is definitely NOT the case that people will abide by the rule of law, especially when it runs contrary to common sense, decency and fairness. That Trudeau expects compliance and passivity from Canadians as he pushes a dated, unfair, potentially catastrophic agenda, is not disturbing…its his threat to use force against his own people, that is most fucked…and then to stand at podiums around the world spreading his dainty parlance …just makes my blood boil. He is the same cut of cloth as his father: all purple pinstripe, this boy wonder.
Justin Trudeau is going for worst PM ever
Threatening Canadian citizens with murder by our own army for a FOREIGN OIL COMPANY
Yes KINDER MORGAN IS A FOREIGN OIL COMPANY, based in Texas
He and all people that would give greater rights and freedom to a foreign oil company over the provinces and citizens of Canada are TRAITORS TO CANADA
The PM’s office shouldn’t stand for The Pipeline Moron office
All Liberals are flat out liars, don’t ever trust them! or vote for them!
Do the research, it’s the truth!
No better than Harper
At least Harper wasn’t so arrogant to say he knows more about environmental science as David Suzuki
Dr Sszuki has called the pipeline ridiculously dangerous for Canada and the world
But I guess you know better, right Justin?
Justin Trudeau is going for worst PM ever
Threatening Canadian citizens with murder by our own army for a FOREIGN OIL COMPANY
Yes KINDER MORGAN IS A FOREIGN OIL COMPANY, based in Texas
He and all people that would give greater rights and freedom to a foreign oil company over the provinces and citizens of Canada are TRAITORS TO CANADA
The PM’s office shouldn’t stand for The Pipeline Moron office
All Liberals are flat out liars, don’t ever trust them! or vote for them!
Do the research, it’s the truth!
No better than Harper
At least Harper wasn’t so arrogant to say he knows more about environmental science as David Suzuki
Dr Sszuki has called the pipeline ridiculously dangerous for Canada and the world
But I guess you know better, right Justin?
Bring it on . . . I am ready to go to war with you ignorant bastards. $$$ is all you know.
Damn rights. Corporatism and governmental collusion have soared to fascist levels of authoritarianism. This MUST be stopped.
I resent your words. You may disagree with what is going on but there is no need to call people bastards and that is a quote. Surely you can contribute better ideas than just challenges. This goes for the person below as well.
I agree with Garrett. You are giving bastards a bad name equating them with opportunistic, paid-off politicians.
I think the best course of action now is for BC to have a referendum asking our citizens if they wish to remain under the control of a despot or if we wish to form a new country where we have the right to protect our jobs, environment, economy, etc. rather than be sold out.
After all, Quebec has had two opportunities to decide its own fate, and they have contributed a lot less to the national economy than BC, where it’s become almost a tradition to milk us for our taxes and resources and provide little in return.
Bring it on . . . I am ready to go to war with you ignorant bastards. $$$ is all you know.
Damn rights. Corporatism and governmental collusion have soared to fascist levels of authoritarianism. This MUST be stopped.
I resent your words. You may disagree with what is going on but there is no need to call people bastards and that is a quote. Surely you can contribute better ideas than just challenges. This goes for the person below as well.
I agree with Garrett. You are giving bastards a bad name equating them with opportunistic, paid-off politicians.
I think the best course of action now is for BC to have a referendum asking our citizens if they wish to remain under the control of a despot or if we wish to form a new country where we have the right to protect our jobs, environment, economy, etc. rather than be sold out.
After all, Quebec has had two opportunities to decide its own fate, and they have contributed a lot less to the national economy than BC, where it’s become almost a tradition to milk us for our taxes and resources and provide little in return.