As the government attempts to move forward with the expansion, the issue reveals a crisis around how the Canadian government does consultations, argues Tzeporah Berman.
Unceded Coast Salish Territories (Vancouver, BC) – Three people arrested in August for blocking construction on the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project were sentenced to jail on October 2 in BC Supreme Court.
Over a dozen Protectors are expected to be handed jail sentences this month, despite a recent Federal Court of Appeal ruling that quashed approval for the project and brought construction to a halt.
Two Protectors were sentenced to seven days in jail, Noaa Edwards and Avery Shannon.
The government is hiring former Supreme Court of Canada justice Frank Iacobucci to oversee a new round of consultations with affected Indigenous communities.
We have until October 3rd to submit comments on the focus and design of the new NEB hearing. Please take 5 minutes and submit a quick letter of comment on the process. The background, content, and links are all here. Thanks!!
Robyn Allan wrote to the NEB on Sept 8, 2018. She had written the Board in 2016 about errors in their recommendation report on the TMEX and they'd told her they couldn't respond because it was before the courts.
So Sept 8 she wrote again and argued re 5 errors to do with capital cost, number of tankers using the old line, the nature of agreements with shippers, the definition of the project in the report vs the definition used in the hearing, and a 'best interest of Canadians' statement. She explains why each is important.
A veteran NDP MP used the most unparliamentary language to blast the Liberal government's push to complete the Trans Mountain expansion project despite concerns from many Indigenous groups.
"Why doesn't the prime minister just say the truth and tell Indigenous Peoples that he doesn't give a fuck about their rights?" Romeo Saganash asked in question period Tuesday, stunning the House of Commons.
Though some NDP MPs applauded, House Speaker Geoff Regan immediately called on Saganash to apologize.
