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Wednesday, May 14, 2014
Calm prevails on local waters
One Cowichan backs antipipeline blitz
Stormy time ahead?: Stz’uminus chief warns dispute could still escalate
Climate change: Event sees 250 ready to petition in two ridings against Enbridge’s oil project
Lindsay Chung
News Leader Pictorial
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Peter W. Rusland
News Leader Pictorial
W
e’re in!” That was One Cowichan’s simple message, shaped by people’s bodies, then photographed and sent Saturday to oil giant Enbridge. Their two-word note was a heads-up from locals ready to petition and force a referendum on a B.C. permit for the oil firm’s planned pipeline to a proposed supertanker shipment port at Kitimat. The legal petitioning process — copying B.C. residents’ successful anti-HST drive several years ago — was supported at Saturday’s Defend Our Climate, Defend Our Coast event at Cowichan Station’s HUB centre. Cowichanians feared tanker ruptures and future climate-change spikes from the project. “The stakes are higher than anything we’ve ever seen,” said petitioner Sonia Furstenau. Petition timing dovetails with Ottawa’s looming decision, by June’s end, about allowing Enbridge’s pipeline. Matt Price of One Cowichan said his environmental group now has 250 citizens ready to gain 6,000 names on petitions in each of the Cowichan Valley, and Nanaimo-North Cowichan ridings. Petition names are needed from 10% of registered voters in each of B.C.’s 85 ridings to essentially force a provincial vote on Enbridge’s pipeline carrying raw materials from Alberta’s controversial oil sands, explained Price. If the feds OK the pipeline, there will still be dozens of provincial permits needed to construct it, One Cowichan’s website states. Permitting processes could be subject to B.C.’s unique initiative and recall legislation that allows citizens to write and propose laws, it says. more on page 4 HOME OF THE
BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON! Andrew Leong
Police dog Elton is instructed to apprehend ‘suspect’ Const. Kiel Pharis, by his trainer Const. Chris Alward, during a demonstration at a field near the Island Savings Centre as part of National Police Week Sunday.
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ll remains peaceful on local waters despite an ongoing dispute between the federal government and the Stz’uminus band about fishing rights. But Stz’uminus Chief John Elliott said that could change anytime. Elliott confirmed Monday the band has taken no action to enforce the boating prohibition it announced for its traditional waters May 2. But he said the band is watching all the fisheries in its territory and this issue is not going to go away. “We’re in it for the long haul,” he said. “I think we’re going to have to take action if DFO doesn’t do something. If that means blockading, we will definitely be out there to defend our resources.” Elliott’s comments came after a private meeting held at the Stz’uminus Elders Centre where chiefs from up and down the coast expressed their full support for the Stz’uminus action. Elliott met with David Bob of Snaw-naw-as (Nanoose), Chip Seymour of Cowichan, Wilbur Jack of Penelakut, John Wesley of Snuneymuxw and James Thomas of Halalt. “We had to get together because we all share the same frustrations around management and creating economy for our people,” said Elliott. “They wanted to show their support by coming today and letting us know the work we are doing is not going unnoticed. I think it was a very strong statement today that our neighbouring nations are as frustrated as we are. They made it pretty clear to Stz’uminus that they support us.” “There’s a lot of support, and it’s even nations on the Mainland and nations in the north,” he added. “I think we’re all at a point that if we don’t support everyone, we’ll never move forward.” Elliott said their key issues area desire for comanagement of fisheries in their territories, and for economic opportunities that truly benefit their nation. “If DFO isn’t going to have true consultation with First Nations communities, it puts us no closer to solving the issues within our territories, so the Stz’uminus First Nation will do what they need to do, with the support of the other First Nations,” said Elliott. “If we can’t get co-management, we need to protect our resources.”
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