The Root Word: ForestEthics Blog

Stephen Harper’s Conservative Government kicked off 2012 with a no-holds-barred campaign to force Enbridge’s Northern Gateway tar sands pipeline and tanker project through BC opposition.  Now, after a deluge of polls showing collapsing Conservative Party support and exploding opposition to the Enbridge project in BC, Harper has fallen silent on the issue.

When we learned that the Prime Minister would be addressing corporate executives at an “Asia-Pacific Dialogue” we were eager for the chance to ask tough questions about whether or not his Government would continue to support a project that British Columbians have essentially rejected.

Unfortunately, although I paid the hefty admission fee and had a copy of my registration confirmation, I was denied entry.  Given the reaction of the event staff to my registration papers – which clearly listed me as a representative of ForestEthics Advocacy – it’s hard to believe it was a technical glitch or registration problem, as they stated.  I was immediately turned over to Harper’s RCMP security detail, who took my business cards and questioned me about ForestEthics Advocacy before escorting me out.

Outside, I met more than a hundred protesters who held signs with slogans like “No Pipelines, No Tankers, No Problem” and “Protect our Coast”.  When I shared my story with them, it sparked outrage and disbelief.  Later, dozens of new activists approached me to ask how they could get involved in the campaign.

Yesterday was just another indication that Harper’s attempts to silence opponents of Enbridge’s pipeline/tankers proposal are only making our movement bigger, louder and stronger.

(Photo by Zack Embree: ForestEthics Advocacy Outreach Coordinator Jolan Bailey fires up crowd of protesters outside the conference centre while Prime Minister Harper spoke inside.)