RAW, UNEDITED news release and video provided to The NEWS from MP Gord Johns' office Thursday afternoon:
OTTAWA –MP Gord Johns (Courtenay-Alberni) blasted the Trudeau government today in Question Period for its decision to approve the Kinder Morgan pipeline without having new rules in place for the environmental assessment review.
"The health of the coast is the health of our environment and is the health of our communities," said Johns. "After promising to put the Kinder Morgan pipeline through a new assessment process, why is this government now putting at risk everything we hold so dear?"
During the election, Justin Trudeau made a clear promise to British Columbians that the Kinder Morgan pipeline review would be redone under new, stronger, more credible rules. New Democrats have consistently said that for development projects to move forward, Canada needs a thorough, credible review process. Yet Prime Minister Trudeau continues to use Stephen Harper's flawed process to reach approval on a number of projects.
"Why are they betraying Vancouver Islanders?" demanded Johns.
MP Johns reminded the government that the quality of life for Vancouver Islanders is dependent on the health of the waters that surround them, "The Prime Minister says he's a grandson of British Columbia so maybe he can understand: our economy is tied to our ocean and our culture is rooted to the sea."
In the 1990s, Vancouver Island residents undertook the largest civil disobedience in Canadian history to save Clayoquot Sound from clearcut logging. After 850 arrests and three years, protestors won the fight and the lands of Clayoquot Sound are now largely protected. This week, Vancouver Islanders are mobilizing again to organize protests and legal challenges to the decision by the federal government to approve the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline.