Enbridge faces strong opposition from Heiltsuk

Representatives for Enbridge Inc. were in Bella Bella, BC yesterday to present their case for the Northern Gateway pipeline project to the Heiltsuk community. If the Enbridge pipeline from Alberta’s tar sands to Kitimat is approved, some 225 oil tankers will ply BC’s coast on an annual basis; the risk of an Exxon Valdez type spill would be significant. Raincoast’s Doug Brown, a member of the Heiltsuk First Nation, was at the event. Doug reports that “Enbridge heard it loud and clear that tankers in our waters are not welcome. I’ve never seen five people so uncomfortable. They started their presentation, but it was cut short by numerous questions from the community. It seemed they never had a clear answer for anything. Like their pipeline in Michigan, the presentation Enbridge gave seemed full of holes.” The accompanying photograph taken by Doug shows Heiltsuk Youth handing over a signed petition stating their opposition to the pipeline.

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