People from across the continent were already actively engaged in protest even before the application for the Energy East pipeline was submitted by TransCanada on October 30th. According to the National Energy Board’s (NEB) rules there will be a 15 month period for review.
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has excluded climate science and communities from contributing to the pipeline review process in an effort to fast track tar sands development. However, this has only emboldened opposition to the pipeline. When the NEB announced that it will not consider the climate impacts or community voices in its assessment more than 50,000 people sent letters of protest.
Environmental groups opposing the Energy East include Greenpeace Canada, Equiterre, Environmental Defence, Ecology Ottawa, Council of Canadians, NRDC, New Brunswick Conservation Council, AQLPA, 350 Maine, Nature Quebec, Ecology Action Centre and the Coule pas chez nous!, as well as land and homeowners living near the proposed route and concerned municipalities, like North Bay, Saint-Sulpice and L’Assomption.
Greenpeace has launched a petition calling for a review and Environmental Defense has launched a campaign called Our Risk Their Reward. The biggest protest in Quebec against the Energy East pipeline took place on October 11.
The organization 350.org is behind a number of actions including a Halloween protest. They have also organized what they are calling “The People’s Intervention Campaign.” The plan is to deliver tens of thousands of messages to the National Energy Board (NEB) calling for a climate review of Energy East. Over 50,000 Canadians from across the country have already added their message. Another nationwide action from 350.org involves the creation of the Energy East Action Network which provides kits to help community organizers plan and launch actions to stop the pipeline. This network will stage nationwide actions at key moments.
An action that includes protest against Energy East is planed for today (November 7th). Students from across the country are coming together in Montreal for the first Student Divestment Convergence in Canada. It kicks off on Friday, November 7th, at 7:00 PM at the Hall Building of Concordia University, 1455 De Maisonneuve Blvd, room H110.
The event will include discussions, stories, and plans for action to stop pipeline and tar sands expansion in Quebec and beyond. Featured voices from across the climate justice movement in Canada & Quebec, include:
– Crystal Lameman. A member of the Beaver Lake Cree Nation, Crystal focuses her work on fighting to oppose the tar sands, whilst addressing the environmental racism the Government of Canada imposes on First Nations people in the name of resource extraction.
– Denise Jourdain. Denise is a member of the Innu community of Uashat mak Mani-utenam, on the north shore of the St. Lawrence River. She is actively working to oppose the Plan Nord forestry and mining industry in Northern Quebec.
– Alyssa Symons-Belanger. An anti-pipeline activist and organizer in Quebec, Alyssa has played a key role in organizing the Marche des Peuples pour la Terre Mere & the recent Line 9 Action Camp.
– Heather Milton-Lightening. Heather is an Indigenous organizer with 17 years of experience in organizing local and international campaigns, including dozens of campaigns and actions to stop tar sands expansion.
Related
The Energy East Pipedream
Quebecers Protest Energy East Pipeline and Terminal
Halloween Campaign Opposing the Energy East Pipeline
Environmental Leaders Comment on the Energy East Pipeline
Cities In Ontario and Quebec Opposing Energy East
Video – Stop the Energy East Pipeline
