Protesters try to reverse pipeline direction
Kati George-jim can see construction vehicles travelling to Kinder Morgan pipeline work sites from her bedroom window at her family home on lower Vancouver Island.
A member of the T’sou-ke Nation near Victoria, the Dalhousie University student was one of over 80 people gathered outside Liberal MP Andy Fillmore’s Halifax office to protest Ottawa’s Kinder Morgan pipeline purchase.
“We are all coastal people here. Imagine … you can see the pipeline from where you work, from where you live, from where you go to school – that’s scary,” said George-jim, 22, a sustainability and political science student.
The Halifax protest was one of over 100 held on Monday at Liberal constituency offices across the country after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced last week his government will purchase the pipeline from Kinder Morgan with a bailout of $4.5 billion.
Protesters held posters outlining how the money should be spent, such as on potable water for First Nations reserves, renewable energy and health care.
Andrew Glencross, 50, of Halifax, said he has spoken to Fillmore about his thoughts on the pipeline purchase and that the MP has lost his vote in the next election.
“This last step of the government has been crazy – it’s made our country into an oil company,” he said.
Another protester, Sharon MacDonald, 69, of Dartmouth, said she feels ashamed at the government’s actions and complete lack of consultation with Indigenous and nonindigenous Canadians on the issue.
“Us leaning on our oil just seems crazy to me — $4.5 billion is just the start,” she said.
After chanting outside, protesters walked into Fillmore’s office, carrying a length of “pipeline” with the label Crudeau Oil.
The group recorded a video message for Fillmore: “The community of Halifax has spoken and it’s your responsibility to listen – we expect and demand action.”