Unlike an earthquake, Tuesdaysa国际传媒檚 federal government sa国际传媒済reen lightsa国际传媒� on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX) was entirely predictable.
But like an earthquake in the ocean, it came with the requisite tsunami, this one a wave of press releases washing across newsroom desks across B.C.
sa国际传媒� READ MORE:
As soon as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the approval, in they came. By the time I left the office Tuesday, I counted 19 press releases from political parties, business groups, Indigenous organizations, Trans Mountain itself and, of course, environmental activists. And thatsa国际传媒檚 just as a B.C. journalist. Isa国际传媒檓 sure Isa国际传媒檓 not on everyonesa国际传媒檚 mailing list. Others may have seen many, many more.
Depending on the point of view, the unsurprising announcement from a government that owns the pipeline in question, a decision to approve the twinning of the 1,150-kilometre pipeline, tripling the capacity, was sa国际传媒渟tunning hypocrisysa国际传媒� (Rain Forest Action Network) or sa国际传媒渄isgraceful in a climate emergencysa国际传媒� (Wilderness Committee or sa国际传媒渁 violent act against young peoplesa国际传媒� (Sierra Club of BC).
From supporters of the pipeline expansion it was tepid support at best, given the small-c conservative politicization of all things Trudeau and/or federally Liberal. If you hate Trudeau, but are pro-pipeline, the response needed to be a half-empty cup.
Well before approval, before 7 a.m., the federal Conservatives put forth leader Andrew Scheersa国际传媒檚 response. Building a pipeline is a decision he would have clearly also made, but one he had to criticize: sa国际传媒淐abinet Decision on TMX Meaningless Without Construction Date: Scheer.sa国际传媒�
A political sa国际传媒測es, butsa国际传媒� response.
The Canadian Federation of Independent Business was the least passive-aggressive in support of the decision: sa国际传媒淲e are pleased to see the federal governmentsa国际传媒檚 final decision today granting approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) Project. After more than seven years of review, itsa国际传媒檚 time to get shovels in the ground.sa国际传媒�
The BC Liberal Caucus naturally used the decision to lambaste the governing NDP: sa国际传媒渟a国际传媒楾odaysa国际传媒檚 decision by the federal government sends a clear message to John Horgan and the NDP: The time for obstruction is over sa国际传媒� their government needs to get out of the way and support this project.sa国际传媒檚a国际传媒�
Of those initial 19 press releases, the majority were Indigenous groups and environmental organizations issuing missives written long ago, knowing Trudeau would say yes to TMX.
From the Sierra Club to Greenpeace to Stand.Earth to the David Suzuki Foundation, the messages were clear. From Greenpeace: sa国际传媒淔or the Trudeau government to approve this pipeline after declaring a climate emergency makes about as much sense as pouring gasoline on a burning fire.sa国际传媒�
As for Indigenous leaders, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is not impressed. Their headline: sa国际传媒淐anada Approves TMX Despite Failing to Achieve Consent: Declaration of Climate Emergency Rings Hollow.sa国际传媒�
Tsleil-Waututh Chief Leah George-Wilson called Trudeausa国际传媒檚 approval sa国际传媒渄isappointingsa国际传媒� if sa国际传媒渘ot surprisingsa国际传媒� and vows to fight it in court.
Those who hate Trudeau, hate Trudeau no matter what he does, this file proves it. Those who support environmental responsibility are unsurprised by Scheersa国际传媒檚 derision but are left disappointed by a Prime Minister who declared a climate emergency one day and approved the tripling of a pipeline to get diluted bitumen from Alberta to tidewater the next.
Nuanced positions are increasingly tough to hold in politics, division is the order of the day. You are either with us or you are against us. The environment or the economy. Leaders who try to have cake and eat it look greedy.
Political cartoonist Greg Perry drew an unflattering image of Trudeau in a pickle costume musing how it isnsa国际传媒檛 easy being green. Yes, the PM is in a pickle of his own making. But isnsa国际传媒檛 that the reality of balancing an economy and an environment?
And as usual, the best cartoonists nail down in one image what a press release writer (or columnist) can lay out in 650-or-so words.
sa国际传媒� RELATED:
sa国际传媒� RELATED:
paul.henderson@theprogress.com
Like us on and follow us on .
