With Dan Miller’s call once again this week for a lifting of the moratorium on exploration on the North Coast, those that are against the idea are continuing to outline their opposition.
The Council of the Haida has reminded their old friend Dan Miller that once upon a time, he seemed to be more in line with their thoughts and beliefs, especially when it came to the contentious issue of oil and gas exploration on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
They took their concerns over the recent push to remove the moratorium to the front pages of the Daily News with the headline story in Thursday’s edition.
HAIDA POURS COLD WATER ON TALK OF OIL EXTRACTION
The Council of Haida makes it clear oil on its territory will remain in the ground
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, October 23. 2008
Page one
On Monday, former NDP premier Dan Miller said he would like the coast of British Columbia to open up for offshore oil business. On Wednesday, Council of Haida Nation (CHN) vice president Arnie Bellis said no way.
Bellis was reacting to comments made by Miller, who said he would like to see the federal moratorium lifted on offshore oil drilling, or else the province would suffer economic peril.
Miller said that the economy was in serious danger because, for the past two years, provincial growth had been the result of strong residential construction, government and consumer spending, and oil and gas development in the Peace River region.
“Dan Miller is an old friend of mine and he clearly knows the Haida position – what was also his position earlier in life – and I don’t know what happened since on his own position,” said Bellis.
Bellis said Miller might have a whole host of concerns that might have brought him to advocate for a lifting of the 1972 federal moratorium such as jobs and the local economy. But Bellis made it clear that the Council of Haida Nation remains firmly against any offshore oil project near their traditional territory.
Miller was also a lobbyist for Enbridge Inc, a large oil distributor in B. C. and Bellis questioned whether that might be part of the reason he is so interested in lifting the moratorium.
“I’m not saying that is all his motivation but it probably factors in quite a bit,” said Bellis. “Dan Miller of all people should know what corporate philosophy has done on Haida Gwaii - you need to look no further than our forestry sector 0 and what the corporate philosophy has done for the people here,” said Bellis.
In 2002, the Haida Nation filed a legal claim to ‘Haida Gwaii’ the Haida’s traditional name for the Queen Charlotte Islands. This was partly done as a reaction to the threat posed to the 1972 moratorium.
The claim would include all land, water and sub-sea rights to Haida Gwaii, and all areas within a 360-km radius. Bellis believes Miller should respect the Haida’s right for self governance and representation.
The Council of the Haida has reminded their old friend Dan Miller that once upon a time, he seemed to be more in line with their thoughts and beliefs, especially when it came to the contentious issue of oil and gas exploration on the Queen Charlotte Islands.
They took their concerns over the recent push to remove the moratorium to the front pages of the Daily News with the headline story in Thursday’s edition.
HAIDA POURS COLD WATER ON TALK OF OIL EXTRACTION
The Council of Haida makes it clear oil on its territory will remain in the ground
By George T. Baker
The Daily News
Thursday, October 23. 2008
Page one
On Monday, former NDP premier Dan Miller said he would like the coast of British Columbia to open up for offshore oil business. On Wednesday, Council of Haida Nation (CHN) vice president Arnie Bellis said no way.
Bellis was reacting to comments made by Miller, who said he would like to see the federal moratorium lifted on offshore oil drilling, or else the province would suffer economic peril.
Miller said that the economy was in serious danger because, for the past two years, provincial growth had been the result of strong residential construction, government and consumer spending, and oil and gas development in the Peace River region.
“Dan Miller is an old friend of mine and he clearly knows the Haida position – what was also his position earlier in life – and I don’t know what happened since on his own position,” said Bellis.
Bellis said Miller might have a whole host of concerns that might have brought him to advocate for a lifting of the 1972 federal moratorium such as jobs and the local economy. But Bellis made it clear that the Council of Haida Nation remains firmly against any offshore oil project near their traditional territory.
Miller was also a lobbyist for Enbridge Inc, a large oil distributor in B. C. and Bellis questioned whether that might be part of the reason he is so interested in lifting the moratorium.
“I’m not saying that is all his motivation but it probably factors in quite a bit,” said Bellis. “Dan Miller of all people should know what corporate philosophy has done on Haida Gwaii - you need to look no further than our forestry sector 0 and what the corporate philosophy has done for the people here,” said Bellis.
In 2002, the Haida Nation filed a legal claim to ‘Haida Gwaii’ the Haida’s traditional name for the Queen Charlotte Islands. This was partly done as a reaction to the threat posed to the 1972 moratorium.
The claim would include all land, water and sub-sea rights to Haida Gwaii, and all areas within a 360-km radius. Bellis believes Miller should respect the Haida’s right for self governance and representation.
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