Wet'suwet'en News
B.C. Native group “UNITED” against Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline
December 01, 2011
John Ridsdale aka Chief Namoks of the Wet'suwet'en nation signs the Save the Fraser Declaration to stop the expansion of crude oil pipelines in British Columbia at a signing ceremony in Vancouver, British Columbia December 1, 2011. Various First Nation leaders have signed the agreement to stop oil companies from expanding pipelines into their territories
First Nations groups in British Columbia said on Thursday they had formed a united front to oppose all exports of crude oil from the Alberta oilsands through their territories.
The declaration adds to the uncertainty over Enbridge Inc’s planned $5.5 billion Northern Gateway oil pipeline, which would move 525,000 barrels a day of oilsands-derived oil 1,177 km to the port of Kitimat, B.C.
It could also affect an expansion of Kinder Morgan Energy Partners’ Trans Mountain oil pipeline, which runs from Alberta to Vancouver. The company is currently seeking commitments from potential shippers for the project.
The First Nations group says they fear the consequences of a spill from the pipeline, which would pass through some of Canada’s most spectacular landscape. They also oppose the idea of shipping oil from B.C. ports.
“First Nations, whose unceded territory encompasses the entire coastline of British Columbia, have formed a united front, banning all exports of tar sands crude oil through their territories,” more than 60 aboriginal groups said in a statement.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has identified Northern Gateway, which would open up a new supply route to Asia, as important to the country’s economic interests, especially after the U.S. last month imposed a delay on approving TransCanada Corp.‘s Keystone XL pipeline, which was planned to take Alberta oilsands crude to Texas.
There was no immediate reaction from Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver, who is a strong backer of building more pipelines.
