No Means No Crudeau!” Rally Builds Solidarity Across West Coast While Trudeau Vacations in Tofino

No Means No Crudeau!” Rally Builds Solidarity Across West Coast

While Trudeau Vacations in Tofino

Tofino - Since becoming Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau has vacationed in

Tofino for the past three summers. West-coasters are disappointed and upset with

Trudeau for approving and spending billions of taxpayer dollars to buy the Trans

Mountain tar sands pipeline. The pipeline would increase oil tanker traffic on the west

coast 700% and result in Canada failing global climate change reduction commitments

“Trudeau talks about reconciliation and working together, yet he is trying to force a

pipeline across unceded Indigenous territories,” said Deputy Chief Terry Dorward of the

Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations, within whose traditional territory Tofino resides and Trudeau

was previously banned from. “Tla-o-qui-aht First Nations stand in solidarity with

Indigenous Nations and their supporters against this tar sands pipeline and tanker

expansion. An oil spill would cause catastrophic devastation to the coastal ecosystems

which we are all apart of.”

Trudeau’s Trans Mountain pipeline still has no consent from entire Indigenous Nations,

major municipalities including Vancouver, Burnaby, and Victoria, and the Government of

British Columbia. With no treaties and no purchase of the unceded territories from the

Indigenous Nations within B.C., Canada has no legal jurisdiction under International

Law, including the Royal Proclamation, to approve or permit the pipeline.

“Trudeau is betraying the west coast. It really shows how arrogant and dysfunctional

Justin’s thinking is that he is here vacationing in the very place his toxic agenda will

destroy,” said Jeh Custerra, Campaigner for Friends of Clayoquot Sound who previously

confronted Trudeau in Tofino. “From endangered orcas, rising seas, and drying salmon

streams to dead ducks in toxic tailings ponds, forest fires, and cancerous contamination

of lakes and rivers downstream of the tar sands, it's up to us to change these realities.

Unlike Trudeau, future generations won't be able to take a vacation from the climate

crisis and the corrupting influence of big oil.”

Will George, Tsleil Waututh Leader of the Kwekwecnewtxw Watch House on Burnaby

Mountain, has traveled to Tofino to deliver a message to Trudeau.

“Trudeau needs to understand that ‘No’ means ‘No’! From establishing action camps to

hanging off bridges, we will do whatever it takes to stop this dirty pipeline,” emphasized

Will George, who suspended from the Ironworkers Memorial Bridge in Vancouver earlier

in July. “Now is a critical time, so I encourage everyone to join the movement to protect

what the land, water, and climate. Bring your skill set and your family and friends.”

The “Protect What You Love Beach Rally: No Means No Crudeau” is taking place on

Cox Bay in Tofino within unceded Tla-o-qui-aht territory. Everyone is invited to meet on

the north side of the public beach just outside Trudeau’s taxpayer funded vacation rental

at Pacific Sands on Tuesday, July 31 at 12pm.

Will George, Kwekwecnewtxw Watch House, Tsleil Waututh Leader: 604-506-8761

Terry Dorward, Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation, Deputy Chief: 250-725-3736

Jeh Custerra, Friends of Clayoquot Sound, Campaigner: 250-725-4218 / 306-361-7855