The Comox Valley Record reports, “The National Energy Board will conduct hearings for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline proposal March 30 and 31 at the Comox Community Centre. The Comox Valley chapters of the Council of Canadians and the Sierra Club have organized a rally on the Saturday dubbed Our Coast, Our Decision — No Tankers, No Pipeline. Attendees are asked to bring banners and to wear a blue scarf in opposition to the multi-billion dollar twin pipeline system proposed to run from Bruderheim, Alta. near Edmonton to a new marine terminal in Kitimat.”
“The rally will run from about 1 to 2 p.m. Protesters from Victoria, Quadra Island and other communities are expected to attend. …After the rally, the crowd will move to École Robb Road Elementary for further activities.”
In mid-January, the Comox Valley chapter submitted its comments on the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline to the National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel. Chapter activist Gwyn Frayne wrote, “Protecting our environment includes our forest lands, our rivers and our ocean. Putting a pipeline across the first two and tankers across the latter will put the future in jeopardy. The land, water and animals are all at risk if we allow a pipeline to transport oil to tankers. The Council of Canadians Comox Valley Chapter supports the First Nations which are trying to safeguard their traditional territories. They are trying to save their lands and their livelihoods and they have put themselves on the line for their principles. In the process they are teaching all of us how democracy could work.”
The Comox Valley Echo article on the protest is at http://www.comoxvalleyrecord.com/news/143525746.html. A campaign blog highlighting the Comox Valley’s submission to the NEB panel can be read at http://canadians.org/blog/?p=13044.
