A Line 9 worksite occupation launched this morning is only the latest challenge to Enbridge’s plans to expand the flow in its Sarnia to Montreal pipeline and begin shipping diluted bitumen from the Alberta tar sands. There was a similar action earlier this week in Etobicoke, and the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation has won the right to appeal the March National Energy Board decision that had seemed to clear the way for the controversial project.
And in a further blow to Enbridge’s potential bitumen export plans through an ocean port in Maine, massive public intervention has convinced the South Portland city council to block tar sands passage through that city. On July 9, the council voted 6-1 to “prohibit loading crude oil, including tar sands, in bulk onto marine tank vessels and would block construction or expansion of terminals and other facilities for that purpose” at a meeting attended by nearly 500 people. A ratification vote is scheduled for July 21.
This morning individuals from Six Nations and others occupied an Enbridge Line 9 worksite near Cambridge located on Haudenosaunee territory guaranteed under the Haldimand deed. A media release from the group says they intend to operate “an action camp” and provide teach-ins on Six Nations history, indigenous solidarity and direct action methods.
“This isn’t just about line 9 – or Northern Gateway, Energy East or Keystone XL. This is about pipelines – all of them.” Danielle Boissineau, of Turtle Clan, states in the release. “This is about the tar sands and how destructive they are to expand, extract and transport.”
The Chippewas of the Thames First Nation note that Line 9 “crosses the Thames River … that runs through the Chippewas traditional territory and provides a source of drinking water to the First Nation. Their appeal is based on the failure of the federal government to consult with the First Nation, something the Chippewas argue is being done with some western Canada pipelines.
“We know that there is a lot of public debate about oil pipelines because we are beginning to see that the old ways of doing business are no longer acceptable because of issues like global climate change and species extinction,” said Chief Miskokomon. “Our elders have taught us that when we don’t respect Mother Earth our actions will come back to us”.
The director of lands and environment for the First Nation said aboriginal people in Ontario also have concerns about the Energy East pipeline proposed by Trans Canada. That project runs from Alberta to New Brunswick, partly via an existing natural gas pipe and partly requiring new construction. Like other attempts to ship bitumen to an ocean port, it is facing extensive opposition and controversy.
In an echo of Enbridge’s actions in Hamilton and elsewhere along Line 9, it has been revealed that Trans Canada has given $30,000 to one of the Ontario towns in the path of its pipeline in return for a promise that the town will not comment on Energy East. Enbridge handed out monies along Line 9 to municipal governments and police forces including nearly $45,000 to the Hamilton police department.
The grant to Mattawa came with a written agreement that stated “the Town of Mattawa will not publicly comment on TransCanada’s operations or business projects.” The Toronto Star exposed the gag clause in early July, and after Avaaz gathered 30,000 signatures against it, the town council removed the clause earlier this week.
It has never been revealed if there were conditions attached to the Hamilton grants from Enbridge, but the Hamilton 350 Committee is continuing to seek provincial intervention to block the police from accepting corporate donations.
The limits on public involvement and the restricted list of issues that were imposed by the NEB on the Line 9 case are also being appealed by Forest Ethics in a case that’s expected to go before the Federal Court of Appeal in October.