Campaign Blog
Enbridge lawyers question opponents at Northern Gateway pipeline hearings
Posted Apr 9
Lawyers for Enbridge Inc. are getting their turn to question opponents of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline as hearings examining the project continue in Prince Rupert. Enbridge spokesman Ivan Giesbrecht says company lawye| rs want more detail about research methods and evidence presented at the joint review panel hearings by groups critical of a twinned pipeline between Alberta and B.C.’s West Coast.
Dilbit Sinks in Enbridge Oil Spill, but Floats in Its Lab Study
Posted Mar 14
A recent industry-backed study of diluted bitumen, the Canadian crude oil that would be shipped through the proposed Keystone XL pipeline, contradicts what environmentalists have said for years—that diluted bitumen, or dilbit, sinks in water and is much more difficult to clean up than conventional crude oil.
Instead, the study found that dilbit floats when it spills into water, a claim that contradicts what happened during a major dilbit spill in Michigan's Kalamazoo River in 2010. The cleanup of that spill already has cost more than $810 million, and the Environmental Protection Agency is still struggling to figure out how to remove the submerged oil.
Natural resources minister ‘aligned priorities’ with pipeline lobby
Posted Mar 6
The federal natural resources minister and the industry lobby group that represents oil and gas pipelines are "aligned on priorities, particularly on the need to expand markets," according to an internal government memo.
Documents reveal pipeline industry drove changes to ‘Navigable Waters’ act
Posted Feb 22
When the Harper government included a radical overhaul of the Navigable Waters Protection Act in the last omnibus bill, outsiders scratched their heads and wondered out loud where that idea had come from. Documents obtained through the Access to Information Act show it came, in part, from the pipeline industry.
First Nations group quits Enbridge hearings, citing lack of cash Read more: http://www.vancouversun
Posted Feb 5
Coastal First Nations has pulled out of a critical Northern Gateway hearing on Enbridge’s marine oil spill response plans, saying the hearings have drained the organization’s financial resources and are providing few answers.
“We might as well keep our powder dry and save it for court,” CFN executive director Art Sterritt said Monday, expressing dissatisfaction over the cost of attending the hearings and over what he called “a difficult time” getting answers from Northern Gateway applicant Enbridge.
All Opposed To Enbridge? 1,159. All In Favour? 2
Posted Feb 4
They held community hearings in 16 different towns and cities across British Columbia. They listened to presentations from everyday British Columbians for hour after hour, day after day. And when they wrapped up the community hearings in Vancouver on Friday, the three-person National Energy Board panel had heard from 1,159 speakers opposed to Enbridge’s proposal to bring an oil pipeline and tankers to B.C.’s coast and from just two in favour.
VIDEO: Elizabeth May speaks about “The Great Pipeline to China”
Posted Feb 3
ELIZABETH MAY is the Leader of the Green Party of Canada. In speaking about Enbridge, she says " They call it the Northern Gateway pipeline, I call it the great pipeline to China. This is all about getting bitumen crude our of Canada to the Chinese refineries. If Canada ratifies the China - Canada Investment treaty the People's republic of China will have the right to bring action against us if we turn down this project for billions of dollars potentially."
Kalamazoo River spill survivor testifies at Vancouver Enbridge hearings
Posted Jan 30
Freelance photographer Michelle BarlondSmith was living with her husband in a trailer park along the Kalamazoo River in July, 2010 when an Enbridge pipeline burst, leaking 3.3 million litres of diluted bitumen into the water.
Enbridge hearing now closed to public in Kelowna
Posted Jan 25
The public hearings into the Enbridge Northern Gateway project are now no longer open to the public. One of the organizers trying to get the public to come to the hearing is in shock. "How does the JRP (Joint Review Panel) justify turning a public hearing into a closed meeting.? The public is owed an explanation," says Dianne Varga.
Why it Takes a Whale to be Heard: Public Blocked From Enbridge Hearings in Vancouver
Posted Jan 18
The most striking part of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway community hearings in Vancouver is that they’re not open to the community at all. Only a limited number of people get to present their position to the federally appointed Joint Review Panel, and the rest of the public aren’t welcome to watch them, despite thousands of Vancouverites who are passionate about this proposed pipeline and what it means for our future.
Risk assessments of oil spill inadequate, Enbridge pipeline review panel told
Posted Jan 17
In a downtown Vancouver courtroom, lawyers in a criminal negligence case presented a defence that sounded very familiar to opponents of the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline project. The lawyer’s argument was that poor technology and bad weather were responsible for the 2006 sinking of the Queen of the North.
Presenters In Victoria Tell Review Panel To Say No To Enbridge — 253 Times
Posted Jan 15
“This didn’t occur to me — I mean that I would react this way. I’m an ex-Marine. I don’t do this,” Bill Gaylord said, choking back tears, as he addressed the panel reviewing Enbridge’s oil tanker and pipeline proposal last week in Victoria.
Presenters In Victoria Tell Review Panel To Say No To Enbridge — 253 Times
Posted Jan 15
“This didn’t occur to me — I mean that I would react this way. I’m an ex-Marine. I don’t do this,” Bill Gaylord said, choking back tears, as he addressed the panel reviewing Enbridge’s oil tanker and pipeline proposal last week in Victoria.
Public shut out of NGP process, but won’t be silenced
Posted Jan 15
This week Vancouverites will get the chance to address a federal review panel and speak out against the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline. Unfortunately, these “public” hearings won’t be nearly as accessible as they ought to be.
HOPE, the whale is ready for the Enbridge hearings in Vancouver
Posted Jan 13
A group of Vancouver multi-media artists have built a 25 foot whale to bring to the Enbridge public hearings to symbolize the expansive and growing community of people with a vision of an oil-free coast in BC. Here's how you can share your own messsage of hope for an oil free coast!
Denied witness at the Enbridge pipeline hearings
Posted Jan 10
The posting on Craigslist caught my eye. I don’t normally associate Craigslist with opposition to tankers and pipelines, but this wasn’t the first time. There was also that post in the fall after the Defend Our Coast rally.
You: red raincoat. Me: blue raincoat. We stood next to each other at the rally for hours in the rain, cheering the speakers. I turned to invite you for a coffee to warm up and you were gone. Meet me for coffee?
This time, the post was of a different sort. The federal government appointed Joint Review Panel (JRP), the process set up to review the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tankers project, is keeping the public out of the public process. Anyone who wishes to witness the proceedings can only do so at a separate hotel, three kilometres away, via a video feed.
Let’s give Enbridge a warm welcome!
Posted Jan 8
The “public hearings” for the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline roll into BC’s biggest cities this month, and we want to be sure concerned citizens in Vancouver, Victoria, and Kelowna are able to actually tell them what they think about this ludicrous project.
Because the public is - for the first time in the Federal government’s Joint Review Panel process so far - barred from attending the actual hearings, we think it’s critical that people who didn’t already register to formally present to the panel have a chance to be heard.
Here are four ways you can get involved this month:
Watch live updates from the Victoria Enbridge hearings
Posted Jan 7
The Enbridge public hearings roll into BC's 3 biggest cities this month with hearings in Victoria, Vancouver, and Kelowna. This week they are in Victoria, and we are following crack reporter Emma Gilchrist of Dogwood Initiative, who is live inside the hearings. Check out our cool storytelling widget below to see what's really going on. Add your own comments too!
Raising your voice for the Enbridge JRP (in Victoria, Vancouver and Kelowna)
Posted Jan 3
By Andrew Gage, Staff Lawyer, West Coast Environmental Law
Well, tomorrow (January 4th) the Enbridge Joint Review Panel arrives in Victoria. It’s in Vancouver on January 14th, and in Kelowna on the 28th. So this is a big month in the southern part of our province for those concerned about the Enbridge Pipeline and Tanker Project.
Notes from the JRP
Posted Dec 12
By Caitlyn Vernon, coastal campaigner, Sierra Club BC
For the past few days I’ve been in Prince Rupert, to help organize a petition delivery and rally calling on Enbridge to stop misleading the public, in regards to their video that erases over 1000 km2 of islands in a shocking attempt to make the proposed tanker route look less treacherous than it actually is. And I’m here to attend the first few days of the Joint Review Panel technical hearings in Prince Rupert. This portion of the hearings – 1 week in December and then 9 more weeks starting in February - will look at marine safety and environmental issues, as well as Aboriginal rights.
Oral Testimony at the Enbridge JRP hearings
Posted Sep 10
Friends of Wild Salmon has captured some of the oral testimony presented by citizens at the Enbridge Northern Gateway hearings, which concluded this summer. Cross Examination hearings have recently commenced in Edmonton for people, governments, companies and organizations that have intervenor status. Check out the Friends of Wild Salmon Blog to hear what people across the Province have had to say about this proposal.
No Apologies Forthcoming by Gerald Amos
Posted Jan 9
Recently there has been a lot of criticism by supporters of the tar sands, and oil industry front groups, of Canadian non-profit organizations who have concerns regarding the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline project, and the fact that they receive support from U.S. philanthropic foundations.
Ethical Oil.org, and Our Decsion.ca, oil industry front groups with close ties to the Prime Ministers office, recently launched attack ads in northern communities, where opposition to the Enbridge project is fiercest. This desperate attempt to change the minds and hearts of the hundreds of thousands of people who oppose this project, is driven by more than concern for our home and native land. It is being driven by greed and desperation.
Proposed pipeline route photography featured in Outside Magazine
Posted Aug 10
In June, ForestEthics partnered with International League of Conservation Photographers shooter Neil Osborne on a project to gather images along the proposed route of Enbridge’s Northern Gateway Pipeline.
Enbridge target of elaborate Yes Men hoax
Posted Mar 16
Earlier today, the world learned of oil transport giant Enbridge’s strategy for handling inevitable oil spills along its proposed pipeline through pristine British Columbian wilderness: mop it up with human hair. The cockamamie “MyHairCares” hoax, dreamed up by former oil workers and involving outreach to over 1000 hair salons, was promoted in a slick Video News Release and involved a flurry of conflicting press releases.
Check out the trailer for new film, Stand Up
Posted Feb 21
Enbridge finds no love in Northwest B.C. communities in February
Posted Feb 18
By Tyler McCreary
Thursday, February 17, Enbridge hosted a Community Technical Information Session on its proposed Northern Gateway pipeline in the Houston Community Hall. Following three previous community information sessions in Kitimat, Burns Lake, and Prince George, as well as a public forum in Terrace, the Houston forum concluded the February installment of Enbridge community engagement exercises.
Enbridge oil threat comes to Vancouver International Film Fest February 16
Posted Jan 28
If you’re in the Lower Mainland on February 16, you’ll want to check out spOILed, a special presentation at the Vancouver International Film Festival on the threats posed by the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline and oil tankers on BC’s North Coast.
The event will take you from the Tar sands to the Great Bear Rainforest through a beautifully enigmatic series of photography, film and renowned filmmakers, adventurers and speakers from the Gitgaa’t First Nation, the International League of Conservation Photographers, and Pacific Wild. This evening will draw attention to what’s at stake—the social, environmental and economic implications of the proposed pipeline and tankers project.