Photo by Mychaylo Prystupa/ Vancouver Observer.
Nanaimo-based Council of Canadians Board member Paul Manly has noted, “Members of the Mid Island chapter of the Council of Canadians are heading to Burnaby Mountain for the day on Wednesday November 26. We leave on the 6:30 am ferry from Departure Bay. Solidarity!”
While there, the chapter will share this message of solidarity from the whole organization:
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The Council of Canadians stands in solidarity with the growing number of people who are being arrested on Burnaby Mountain in opposition to Kinder Morgan’s proposed 890,000 barrels per day Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline project.
Those residents who have been arrested have been peacefully opposing the survey work being done by the Texas-based energy company, which includes cutting down trees and drilling bore holes in this publicly-owned conservation area situated on unceded Indigenous territories.
The city council of Burnaby also opposes the pipeline and is seeking a court injunction against Kinder Morgan from proceeding with this survey work. This follows the federally-appointed National Energy Board overruling the democratically-elected city council and forcing them to allow the work to take place. We do not believe it is right that a regulatory body should have the authority to override municipal bylaws.
The bitumen for the Trans Mountain pipeline would be extracted from Indigenous territories and transported on their lands and over their waters. The Tsleil-Waututh Nation has launched a legal challenge against this pipeline, citing the federal government’s failure to consult them on key decisions about the environmental assessment and regulatory review of the project. Failure to consult is a serious violation of the government’s duty to respect treaties and the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples recognized by the Supreme Court of Canada.
The Council of Canadians supports civil disobedience and applauds the courage and determination of those who have been arrested and those who are actively resisting this climate-killing and water-destructive tar sands pipeline on Burnaby Mountain.
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Over the past five days, about 70 people have been arrested in opposition to the pipeline, including Indigenous peoples, a 74-year-old grandmother and two 11-year-old girls. 26 people were arrested on Thursday, 11 on Friday, 16 on Saturday, 12 on Sunday, and several more on Monday. An 84-year-old retired librarian and concert pianist intends to cross the line and be arrested today.
To support the people opposing Kinder Morgan on Burnaby Mountain, the Council of Canadians has provided modest funds for wood, gas and other necessary supplies for the gathering place and camp there; its staff and chapters were at the courthouse during the hearings prior to the injunction; we signed an open letter in support of the Burnaby Mountain Caretakers; and we are providing other ongoing support and solidarity.
Further reading
Council of Canadians marches against Trans Mountain Pipeline (August 2011 blog)
Pacific region chapters to protest the Kinder Morgan pipeline (April 2014 blog)
Residents block Kinder Morgan from Burnaby conservation area! (October 2014 blog)
Council signs letter in support of Burnaby resistance against Trans Mountain pipeline (November 2014 blog)
DePape among 24 arrested at protest against Kinder Morgan pipeline (November 2014 blog)
