Dakelh Territory, Prince George, British Columbia. Canada. The CSTC is acknowledging the growing opposition to the Enbridge pipeline project from northern communities. Both the City of Terrace and the Skeena Queen Charlotte Regional District (SQCRD) passed resolutions opposing the building of tar sands pipelines and the related tanker traffic. The Northern Gateway Pipeline project is doomed to fail as such formal opposition is growing throughout BC.
Tribal Chief David Luggi said, “First Nations are not alone in their steadfast opposition to the Enbridge project. People throughout the north are saying that the risks are too great to allow this project to proceed. Enbridge should save tax payers money and focus on other projects.”
“We did our risk assessment of the proposed project and we’ve found that it is not worth the risks to our rivers, forests and wildlife. We want investments in our territory to reflect truly sustainable initiatives like value added manufacturing, education and cultural tourism”, said Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee. The CSTC territory is rich with natural resources and human capital that is undervalued. In addition the CSTC territories offer unaccounted for ecosystem functions for clean air and water. Projects like the Enbridge pipeline create unacceptable risks from an eventual rupture or tanker spill. Vice Chief Teegee note, “These risks are long-term; these types of project persist in our environment for decades, beyond my lifetime, beyond the lifetime of Enbridge executives. It is our grandchildren that will pay the price when there is a spill. We find this unacceptable.”
Tribal Chief Luggi concluded, “The municipal governments have demonstrated wise leadership through their opposition. In addition to the opposition from the Union of BC Municipalities, there are over 100 First Nations in BC, Alberta and the Northwest Territories that are in opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project. Even if the project is approved by the Harper government, it’ll be delayed in the courts and on the ground.” The CSTC expects that the Enbridge project will take longer than the Mackenzie Valley pipeline project because First Nations have not offered their free, prior and informed consent.
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For more information please contact:
Tribal Chief David Luggi: Office (250) 562-6279 e.222. Cell: (250) 640-6622
Vice Tribal Chief Terry Teegee: Office (250) 562-6279 e.223. Cell: (250) 640-3256