TRURO, N.S.
A small group of people gathered in Truro on Friday to do something about 50 other groups were doing across the country – delivering a sample of west coast water to their member of Parliament.
The deliveries were made with a request that MPs pressure Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to stop pushing for a Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion and were part of the National Day of Action to Defend the Water, an initiative of LeadNow.
“This is an environmentally dangerous project,” said Paul Jenkinson, who lives in Tatamagouche. “Our Nova Scotia opposition stands in solidarity with the clear rejection of the pipeline expansion by the Coast Salish people, other First Nations, the government of British Columbia, the state of Washington, and the mayors and councils of Vancouver and Burnaby.”
Lydia Jenkinson pointed out that with a large increase in the number of tankers in the area the chances of something going wrong are greatly increased.
“The environment there is very fragile, and I don’t think we should take the chance,” she said. “Oil would be shipped to China, on ships bearing flags of other countries.”
Allen Darby of Truro said he hopes the message will get to MPs and the government will learn it’s “time to stand up against those who continue to wreck the environment.”
“I don’t understand the lack of foresight,” added his wife, Betty Darby. “It’s pillage, pillage, pillage…”
Many marine mammals, including endangered orcas, live in the area that would be affected. There are concerns that, even without an oil spill, the animals would suffer negative effects from the increase in loud underwater noises.
“I think a lot of people are realizing we’re not living sustainably,” said Tatamagouche resident Wilf Bean. “I see Bill Casey as someone who is responsive to his constituents.
“I don’t think Kinder Morgan will change its plans tomorrow, but I do think it matters to stand up for what you believe.”
