The Council of Canadians Thunder Bay chapter has asked their city council to oppose the Energy East pipeline.
In the chapter’s January newsletter they noted, “The next step we are taking in our battle against Energy East is taking a deputation to City Council, as part of a coalition of local not-for-profit groups. We have over 1000 signatures on a petition asking Council to take a stand against this pipeline.”
A note promoting the intervention said, “We finally have a confirmed date to take our petition and our deputation to City Council. On Monday March 2nd, the local coalition against Energy East will be presenting a deputation to City Council asking them to pass a resolution opposing the Energy East proposal. There will be three people presenting the deputation, but we would love to have a huge audience of supporters in Council Chambers on Monday March 2nd at 6:30 pm. The deputation should be heard early in the meeting… Members of the audience may not participate, but their presence will be noted by councillors.”
Council of Canadians chapter activist Ruth Cook was one of the three who presented to city council that night.
Commenting after the deputation, one chapter activist said, “Councillors asked lots of good questions on Energy East tonight. They will vote on a motion to publicly oppose it next meeting.” It is believed that the vote will either take place tomorrow (March 9) or March 16.
The Thunder Bay chapter has been very active in its opposition to the Energy East pipeline:
2014
February – The chapter joined with allies and snowshoed a portion of the Energy East pipeline. They used that opportunity to highlight the danger of pumping diluted bitumen across the watersheds of Lake Superior’s North Shore, including the Nipigon River.
March – Chapter activists Tom Cook and Ruth Cook gave a presentation to the Ontario Energy Board outlining their four major areas of concern about the pipeline: economic impacts, safety, climate change and local democratic impact and control.
April – The chapter helped host a public forum against the pipeline featuring Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow, Eriel Deranger of the Athabasca Chipewyan First Nation, Jason MacLean from the Lakehead University Faculty of Law, and Adam Scott from Environmental Defence.
October – The chapter issued a report card on the positions taken by candidates for city council so that electors add that to their understanding of what each candidate stands for.
December – The chapter signed an open letter to the National Energy Board calling on it to include climate change in its review of the pipeline project.
2015
January – The chapter participated in the Ontario Energy Board hearing in their city and highlighted their concerns with the project.
March – The chapter joined in the deputation to Thunder Bay city council asking them to oppose the pipeline.
We look forward to the Thunder Bay city council vote on this critical issue.
Photos: Presentation to Thunder Bay city council about Energy East pipeline, March 2, 2015; Council of Canadians chapter activist Ruth Cook at public forum against Energy East, April 2014.
