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Volume 57 No. 27
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Sentinel
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Northern
www.northernsentinel.com
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
1.34 INCLUDES TAX
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Emotional testimonies at JRP hearing Sean Glanville Kitimat recently held it’s second round of Joint Review Panel hearings on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline Project Monday and Tuesday. The JRP gave local residents 10 minutes each to voice their opinions on the project, with roughly 50 people speaking over the two days. The response from citizens was an overwhelming no, with the majority of speakers in opposition to the project. Despite the vast economic gain the pipeline could bring to the region locals feel the risk is not worth the reward. Their sentiments echoed throughout the hearings was that it takes only one major oil spill to cause irreversible environmental damage to the region. “The number one thing people want to talk about is potential for spill. We can not underestimate the costs of a spill in this region and the environmental and economic impacts,”
says NDP Environmental Critic and Halifax MP Megan Leslie, one of many political dignitaries attending the hearings. The JRP speakers came from a variety of generations and cultural backgrounds, and a number of them had to fight back tears when describing this land the seems to invigorate and revitalize their body, mind and soul. The NDP leaders on hand were taken aback by their stories. Words like authentic, truthful, emotional and eloquent immediately came to the fore in describing their testimonies. “Listening to some of the testimony coming out of the JRP, it was particularly moving. The different perspectives from a young environmental activist, a grandfather, a First Nations leader, these people are unafraid,” says Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen. “This is unusual for Canadians, to express their emotions publicly. It’s because so much is at
risk, these folks were so honest in the face of so much cynicism in the face of the government and the oil companies.” Former Eurocan Engineer Terry Brown, one of Monday’s speakers, re-iterated the fact that it’s inevitable that an accident will happen and eventually a pipe or gasket will fail. He recalled one major project at the mill that had nearly a dozen failures within the first couple years. A number of influential people from both Enbridge and the New Democratic Party, official opposition to the Harper Government, were in Kitimat for the hearings. Enbridge Executive Vice President of Western Access Janet Holder and Spokesmen for the NGPP Paul Stanway were on hand. In opposition, Cullen played host to NDP colleagues including Leslie and provincial MPs Fin Donnelly, Alex Atamanenko, and Randall Garrison. Continued on page 3
Even the K9’s were out in full force during Sunday’s protest rally hosted by Douglas Channel Watch. Close to 200 people attended the event held at City Centre Mall parking lot. Cameron Orr
RTA awards major contract
RTA’s Michel Lamarre (left), Bechtel’s Andy Ledermen, Mike Schoofs of Keuhne and Nagel, and Haisla’s Godfrey Grant signed a major joint venture contract Wednesday. Sean Glanville
Sean Glanville Rio Tinto Alcan made a major announcement Wednesday regarding the Kitimat Modernization Project. Keuhne and Nagel Ltd., a major multi-national freight forwarder and logistics specialist has been awarded a significant contract with Bechtel and will serve the KMP. They have formed an innovative joint venture with the Haisla Business Operations to provide local content to their service offerings on the project and to allow for capacity development opportunities for local residents. This joint venture has yet to be formally named but an agreement has been signed.
Representatives from RTA, HBO, Keuhne and Nagel and Bechtel gathered at the RTA Kitimat offices in the City Centre Mall Wednesday for a presentation ceremony and luncheon. Michelle Lamarre, RTA Project Director of KMP was thrilled with the contract. “I think it’s very good, it’s certainly a long term relationship that can be very beneficial to everybody. There will always be a need for good transportation from A to B,” says Lamarre. Lamarre also mentioned the significance the local partnership with the HBO on a community level. Continued on page 2
More on the JRP Hearings...Page 3