Discussions

What’s your opinions of all these rail shutdowns in Canada. I would love to see the numbers on how it’s affecting our economy. It would be extremely frustrating trying to just get home after work and all the bridges or trains are blocked and you couldn’t get there.

This is the protest about the crude oil pipelines then I have some sympathy for it . Maybe the government and big business should respect First Nations, the environment and landowners and stop riding rough shod all over them, especially when government is claiming to be green.

on the issue.  
 
http://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/what-you-need-to-know-about-the-coastal-gaslink-pipeline-conflict/ar-BBZFBdZ?li=AAggNb9&ocid=1PRCDEFE

and as far a I am concerned the blockades need to END!  
The chiefs that are in charge have agreed to the pipeline being built but as we all know there is always someone else who wants the 'power'. That's the hereditary chiefs getting people all riled up. Sour grapes on their part.

Here’s another good article. The pipeline being built will be shipping natural gas to China to get them off coal. It will be very beneficial on a world level. Not only Canada on an economic level.  
 
 
https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/philip-cross-and-pierre-poilievre-hey-woke-folk-coastal-gaslink-will-help-get-china-off-coal?fbclid=IwAR2gIGNzaYeDylmgbuREc-FtuUxMCy4wDOBa6bcC45fkeruRw7WSUt6lZfs

Other land owners that may not want pipelines across their property. Are their wishes not important?

Can you clarify the terms used for me? Are hereditary chiefs something akin to the monarchy, where power is passed from parent to child? Is that something unique to this particular nation, or does with pop up in other nations?  
 
I've been trying to wrap my head around the dynamics of the situation, but without understanding what is a hereditary chief and how they factor into this I'm failing at it. LOL.

don't bite the hand that feeds you

I support a person or groups right to protest or picket, so long as they are peaceful and get permission to be where they congregate, otherwise they are victimizing others with their protest and why does their protest trump our right to safe and free passage in this country we share.  
 
I think that when a protest or picket feels the need to blockade, bar safe access and travel or disrupt our economy that they should instead be labeled for what they really are, economic terrorists and handled as such.  
 
Edited by hutchster, 2020-02-14 11:19:03

The government is the hand biter in this scenario. So we’re clear. They never had the consent to build and really that’s all there is too it.

To bad you couldn’t like a post. This is great.

Are the RCMP and Police not doing something about these blockades? These are illegal blockades. I'm sure if I were to blockade the TCH for my beliefs that I'd be arrested immediately. Talk about double standards!

It could not have been said better than this. These are illegal blockades! And the laws are there for a good reason. I read that many places are unable to get chlorine to treat their water because it is transported by train for those areas and that there will be boil water advisories in a few days if the trains cannot move. Why are the protesters above the law?

Double standards is a government that claims to promote a green agenda but continues to promote extraction of fossil fuels , this is after all a small piece of Canada’s economy despite what the oil and gas industry will tell you. It’s a drop in the bucket.

Read my article about how it will help reduce the amount of green house gas in the world. Natural gas creates nearly half as much green house gases as coal. If we can build a pipe and supply China with a gas that is 50% cleaner. How much would that help on a world climate change level?

To be fair, there are still lots of aboriginal communities that don't have safe drinking water. With that in mind, I can't blame them for not caring.

We are currently enforcing a belief that a couple of hundred people can defy laws and ground an economy. Whether this is the pipeline protesters or the Unifor people. This is also akin to how our justice system gives slaps on the wrists to criminals of any color. My biggest fear is that an impotent justice system will lead to, normally, law abiding citizens to begin enforcing the laws themselves.  
 
Edited by JustASoul, 2020-02-14 13:01:46

National Post article...’ Sedalia Kawennotas, a Mohawk elder, told the Montreal Gazette earlier this week: “The only way their going to pay attention is if we hit them where it hurts: their economy.”’ Excuse my ignorance but I always thought that it was our economy (also known as our taxpayers) who supplemented the very people that are protesting here. Maybe the government should hit them right where it hurts...withhold their money till they remove the blockades. It seems to me somebody is very short-sighted here... or I understand far less about how to build a successful and sustainable economy than I thought I did, but I’m sure a lot of the things required are the same as what my wife said was needed for a strong successful marriage....communication, cooperation and concession.... barricades are not helpful.

I'm not understanding what all these people that are protesting do for a living? If I was picketing instead of at my job, I don't think I would have a job for very long.

I wonder if the people at the blockade - got the Day Off from Work ?

Many of the protesters are outside special interest groups.

people can't do these things without financial support . . there are supplies to buy to build barricades .. food , gas etc . . Follow the money. Someone's bank rolling this big time . Seems like the overall goal is to land lock ALL resources . This is bigger than 'pipelines' because LNG is actually a GOOD thing for the earth .. Great bridge to get off oil (if that's your goal) ...

the protestors and blockades are probably bankrolled by our tax dollars. The government needs to shutoff the flow of money.

I didn't grow up on a reserve. All I know is there is always fights for the power to be chief, no different than our "Canadian" political systems, IMO.  
Chiefs get to control the cash and make the big decisions. Just like other politicians once they get in power then all their friends, even friends with benefits and family don't have to worry about getting employment or money.  
 
About the railroad tracks, when the 8th street bridge was torn down the company erected a fence to keep people from walking across their tracks. Some people even got a fine for TRESPASSING! If I go and walk along the tracks out here I would be issued a fine right?  
So the people who are blocking the trains by sitting on the tracks need to be fined and removed!

Did read your post and that is fair enough. Unfortunately China has no intention of reducing coal usage. They are still building brand new massive coal fired power stations and they intend to use them.

We need to let the first nations people sort this out. only if and when the government of Canada is asked, by first nations peoples, are we to meddle in there affairs.

There are several interests at play here. Certain billionaires who own railroads help fund these protests. They don't want the pipelines. Several big green "non-profit" lobby groups also provide funding. They don't want the pipelines either. Then you have the mainstream media, who report on these protests in a way that would have you believe that every first nation is against the pipelines. That is not the case, as mentioned by a previous poster. A lot of the first nations want the pipelines built.

Certain groups are just getting way to greedy. This happens all the time, just not usually on this scale. Someone is against something, they protest, they make national news, and then it all dissapears and they're never heard from again. Why? Simple, throw enough money at ANY problem and it ALWAYS goes away. Whether it's right or wrong is irrevelant, thats just the way the world works, and thats what will happen. One of these days they'll announce that they have "reached an agreement", and everything will proceed.

Just why is Trudeau not back in Canada for this, any other world leader would cancel everything and get back to their country. He needs to go

For those who are interested in a bit of a read about hereditary chiefs and elected chiefs.  
 
https://www.ctvnews.ca/mobile/canada/wet-suwet-en-what-s-the-difference-between-the-elected-band-council-and-hereditary-chiefs-1.4811453