Coastal GasLink Pipeline
| Coastal GasLink Pipeline | |
|---|---|
 Map of pipeline route. | |
| Location | |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| From | Dawson Creek, British Columbia |
| To | Kitimat, British Columbia |
| General information | |
| Type | Natural Gas |
| Owner | TC Energy[1] |
| Partners | LNG Canada, Korea Gas Corporation, Mitsubishi, PetroChina, Petronas |
| Construction started | 2019 |
| Technical information | |
| Length | 670 km (420 mi) |
The Coastal GasLink Pipeline is a natural gas pipeline under construction in British Columbia, Canada. The pipeline's route starts near Dawson Creek and runs approximately 670 kilometres (420 mi) south-west to a refinery near Kitimat. The pipeline is owned and operated by TC Energy.[1] Construction is underway in most segments of the project except for one section south-west of Houston, part of the traditional lands of the Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation.[2] The hereditary chiefs of the Wetʼsuwetʼen oppose the project and have blocked construction through the section.
The pipeline passes through the traditional territories of several First Nations. Approval was given by twenty First Nations band councils (including the Wetʼsuwetʼen elected band council) along the proposed route and the Government of British Columbia. As a part of their agreement, TC Energy announced it will be awarding CA$620 million in contract work to northern B.C. First Nations.[3][4]
LNG Canada selected TC Energy to design, build, and own the pipeline in 2012.[1] The natural gas transported by the pipeline will be converted into liquefied natural gas by LNG Canada in Kitimat and then exported to global markets. In particular, the company expects the natural gas will help divert emissions resulting from coal-burning in Asia.[5] Its estimated cost is CA$6.6 billion.[6]
Protests[edit]
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A large part of the pipeline is set to run through traditional Wetʼsuwetʼen territory. The project is supported by twenty band councils along the route, including the Wet'suwet'en elected band council. The project is opposed by the hereditary chiefs of the Wet'suwet'en, other Indigenous nations, and environment activists.[7] The chiefs claim a responsibility to protect the traditional territory lands, unlike the elected band councils, which were imposed under the Indian Act. Opponents to the project also note that the 22,000 square kilometres (8,500 sq mi) of Wet'suwet'en territory was never ceded to the Government of Canada.[8] The then colony of British Columbia did not enter into treaties with the First Nations over its territory, including the Wet'suwet'en before joining Canada, and the chiefs claim aboriginal title over the land has not been extinguished. The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed that principle in the 1997 Delgamuukw v British Columbia decision.[2]
On December 31, 2019, the B.C. Supreme Court extended an injunction first issued in December 2018 against Wet'suwet'en protesters blocking the forest service road that provides access to construction of the pipeline project. The injunction included an order authorizing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to enforce the injunction.[9] The RCMP announced January 30, 2020, that they would stand down while the hereditary chiefs and the province met to discuss and try to come to an agreement.[10] However, all parties issued statements on February 4, 2020 that the talks had broken down.[11]
On February 6, the RCMP began enforcing the injunction, arresting a total of 21 protesters at camps along the route between February 6 and 9.[12] The largest of those camps is Unistʼotʼen Camp, directly in the path of the pipeline, established in 2010 as a checkpoint, which has since become a healing centre.[12][13] The RCMP also detained several reporters and have been accused of interfering with the freedom of the press.[13][14]
The actions of the RCMP sparked protests across Canada in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en, including by members of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation, who began a blockade of the railroad near Belleville, Ontario on February 6, 2020,[15] causing Via Rail to cancel several dozen trains on their Toronto-Ottawa route since then.[16][17][18] Other protests blocking rail lines have halted service on Via Rail's Prince Rupert and Prince George lines, as well as Exo's Candiac line in Montreal.[16][19] Several major protests blocked access to the Port of Vancouver, Deltaport, and two other ports in Metro Vancouver for a number of days before the Metro Vancouver police began enforcing an injunction on the morning of February 10, 2020, arresting 47 protesters who refused to cease obstructing the port.[20][21][4] Other protests took place outside the B.C. Legislature in Victoria,[22] in Nelson,[23] Calgary,[24] Regina,[25] Winnipeg,[26] Toronto,[27] Ottawa,[28] Sherbrooke,[29] and Halifax.[30][31]
On February 11, 2020, the RCMP announced that the road to the construction site was cleared[32] and TC Energy announced that work would resume the following Monday.[33] That same day, protesters surrounded the BC Legislature, preventing the traditional ceremonies around the reading of the Throne Speech by the Lieutenant Governor. Members of the Legislature had to have police assistance to enter or used back or side entrances.[34]
On February 13, Via Rail announced that it would be shutting down most of its passenger train service across Canada until further notice, with the exception of the Sudbury–White River train line and the Winnipeg–Churchill train between Churchill and The Pas.[35][36][37]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c "About Coastal GasLink". Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ a b Hernandez, Jon (February 13, 2019). "'We still have title': How a landmark B.C. court case set the stage for Wet'suwet'en protests". cbc.ca. CBC News.
- ^ "Coastal GasLink awards $620 million in contracting opportunities to First Nations". The Interior News. June 28, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Austen, Ian (February 10, 2020). "Canadian Police Move Against Pipeline Blockades". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ "TC Energy - Coastal GasLink". Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ "Coastal Gaslink Chaos: Two-in-five support protesters in natural gas project dispute; half support pipeline". angusreid.org. Angus Reid. February 13, 2010.
- ^ "Snuneymuxw, Nanaimo residents stand in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en in pipeline protest". Nanaimo News Bulletin. February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
- ^ Bellrichard, Chantelle; Barrera, Jorge (February 9, 2020). "Day 4: RCMP continue enforcement against Wet'suwet'en over pipeline injunction". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 9, 2020.
- ^ Lindsay, Bethany (December 31, 2019). "B.C. Supreme Court grants injunction against Wet'suwet'en protesters in pipeline standoff". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 9,2020.
- ^ Uguen-Csenge, Eva. "RCMP to stand down as Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and province start de-escalation talks".
- ^ Bellrichard, Chantelle (February 5, 2020). "Talks break down between province, Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs over Coastal GasLink pipeline standoff". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Bellrichard, Chantelle (February 10, 2020). "Arrests begin at Unist'ot'en as RCMP enforces Coastal Gaslink injunction against Wet'suwet'en". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ a b McIntosh, Emma (February 10, 2020). "RCMP breach final Wet'suwet'en camp in the path of Coastal GasLink pipeline". Canada's National Observer. Retrieved February 10,2020.
- ^ Mae Jones, Alexandra (February 10, 2020). "Journalists say RCMP blocking efforts to cover police raids on Wet'suwet'en camps". CTV News. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Spitters, John (February 7, 2020). "PHOTOS: Tyendinaga protesters stop train traffic". Quinte News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ a b Mazur, Alexandra (February 10, 2020). "B.C. pipeline protests continue to halt Ontario trains for 5th day in a row". Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ "VIA Rail Passenger Trains Impacted by Tyendinaga Mohawk Blockade". NetNewsLedger. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Gallant, Jacques; Hunter, Paul (February 8, 2020). "Protests shut down Ontario rail lines in support of Wet'suwet'en Nation". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Cook, Benson (February 10, 2020). "Pipeline demonstration halts service on Exo's Candiac line in Montreal". Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ "B.C. pipeline protesters vow to ignore injunction, keep Vancouver ports blocked". Global News. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ "Metro Vancouver port blockade prompts injunction, 47 arrested on Monday morning". Vancouver Sun. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ "Anti-pipeline protesters remain at B.C. legislature in Victoria as arrests made in Vancouver". CTV News Vancouver Island. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10,2020.
- ^ Metcalfe, Bill (February 11, 2020). "Nelson residents gather in support of Wet'suwet'en chiefs". Nelson Star. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Pearson, Heide (February 10, 2020). "Wet'suwet'en support rally blocks Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge". Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Giesbrecht, Lynne (February 9, 2020). "More than 100 Reginans rally in support of Wet'suwet'en pipeline protest". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ DePatie, Mason (February 10, 2020). "Wet'suwet'en support protest to shut down Portage Avenue on Monday". CTV News Winnipeg. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Rocca, Ryan (February 9, 2020). "Protesters opposing B.C. pipeline block rail line in Toronto". Global news. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Hemens, Aaron (February 8, 2020). "Hundreds rally in Ottawa in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en First Nation". The Fulcrum. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Lambie, Gordon (February 11, 2020). "Sherbrooke joins growing wave of Wetʼsuwetʼen demonstrations". The Record e-edition. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ D'Amore, Rachael (February 10, 2020). "Wet'suwet'en: Here's where solidarity protests are happening across Canada". Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Johnson, Rhiannon (February 10, 2020). "RCMP arrests in Wet'suwet'en territory spark protests nationwide". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.
- ^ Berman, Sarah (February 11, 2020). "RCMP Says It's Done Raiding Wet'suwet'en Land—For Now". vice.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
- ^ Bellrichard, Chantelle (February 11, 2020). "Coastal GasLink returning to work in injunction area in Wet'suwet'en territory". cbc.ca. CBC News.
- ^ Zussman, Richard (February 11, 2010). "Wet'suwet'en solidarity protesters block entrance to B.C. legislature ahead of throne speech". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
- ^ Tasker, John Paul (February 13, 2020). "Via Rail cancels most trains nationwide, CN closes Eastern Canadian network as Indigenous protests continue". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ Shah, Maryam (February 13, 2020). "Via Rail cancels most trains across the country as CN shuts down rails in eastern Canada". Global News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
- ^ Slaughter, Graham (February 13, 2020). "VIA Rail cancels trains across Canada, CN shuts down Eastern Canada network amid pipeline protests". CTV News. Retrieved February 14,2020.
