Controversial coalbed methane expansion project meets heavy oppositionin Hazelton

Shell Canada learned first hand last weekend that the opposition to their coalbed methane project is going to be large, proactive and more than willing to express their views.

A session held in Hazleton drew 400 participants over the weekend, the vast majority quite against the plans and their potential impact on the Sacred Headwaters.

A coalition of First Nations, anglers, guide outfitters and concerned citizens joined together to oppose the project which had been expected to get underway in May, but now has been postponed to at least August or September, with many calling for a further postponement until public meetings can be held between Shell and the residents of the affected areas.

The full story on the protests over the weekend were featured in Wednesday's Daily News.

Coalbed methane foes pack heated meeting
By Kris Schumacher
The Daily News
Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Pages one and three

Opposition to Shell Canada's proposed coalbed methane extraction project was loud and clear during the weekend as 400 Northwest residents packed Gitanmaax Hall in Hazelton, British Columbia on Saturday.

The Sacred Headwaters Summit brought together members of the Gitxsan, Tahltan, Wet'suwet'en, Tsimshian, Haisla, Carrier-Sekani, and Nisga'a nations, as well as guide outfitters, anglers and other concerned citizens, all united in their opposition to the prospect of coalbed methane drilling at the shared headwaters of the Skeena, Nass and Stikine Rivers.

Shell currently holds a 400-tenure for coalbed methane exploration, a project that opponents say poses more risks and delivers fewer benefits than any other project in the Northwest.
"It was a fairly lively and engaged group who definitely wanted Shell, and industry in general to understand that if they are going to come into their regions and territories, they deserve to be talked to and consulted with on these issues," said Des Nobels, chair of Friends of Wild Salmon.

"This event was an unprecedented demonstration of opposition by a united region. We hope both the B.C. government and Shell have heard the message that people do not plan to give up."

The day's keynote address was given by Jack Stanford, a salmon ecologist from the University of Montana who described how similar development has caused serious environmental destruction in his home state.

Greg Brown of the Pembina Institute also spoke about the probable impacts of Shell's project on wild salmon, and The Honourable John Fraser spoke from the floor to ask why the federal fisheries ministry had not taken a stand on a project that poses such significant threats to wild salmon.

Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen was also in attendance to deliver a message to Shell on behalf of his constituents, many of whom oppose the project .

"I think the opposition to Shell's plans in the Sacred Headwaters is growing with each and every day," said Cullen. "It was very informative and educational to be able to hear from experts on the issue, but I think it confirmed a lot of suspicions people had about the whole project."

Aside from Cullen, North Coast MLA Gary Coons and Skeena MLA Robin Austin, representation from the federal or provincial governments was noticeably absent at the summit, including the region's own MLA.

"Federal and provincial government are promoting this project, yet none of them seem to have interest or courage to present themselves," added Cullen.

Rhoda Quock, a member of the Tahltan Nation, spoke of her people's struggle against Shell, including road blockades and an ongoing court case, and told the crowd to a round of applause that they would not give up . More applause, feet stomping and cheering occurred when Shannon McPhail, executive director of the Skeena Watershed Conservation Coalition, invited people to show Shell that residents will stand in solidarity until the company withdraws its plans.

Head of Shell's Klappan Coalbed Methane project, Kathy Penny, spoke only briefly, stating she had heard many important messages, but gave no hint as to whether Shell would cancel its drilling plans. Shell had been hoping to begin drilling as soon as this month, but has agreed to hold off until August or September. Cullen said he and other opponents will push for a further postponement, at least until public meetings can be held between Shell and residents in affected communities, including as Prince Rupert.

It’s not the Boston Tea Party, but some things have to start someplace

The letters to the editor page of the Daily News is becoming the soap box of the week for Podunk, a couple of days ago it was a short but succinct reply to news of the return of Dan Veniez.

Thursday it was a thoughtful and heartfelt reply to Prince Rupert City Council over the upcoming January tax increases.

Tom Kingshott touched on a number of items around the city as he vented about lost millions, increasing tax rates and how in his opinion it seems that the city is always taking and never giving.

As they continue to go to the well to find remedies for their woes, Kingshott’s letter to the editor seems to show that there’s an undercurrent in town that perhaps the Mayor and his council may want to take heed to.

Perception they say is everything, and right now with some in town, there seems to be a perception that the civic administration may be a little out of touch with their electorate.

If that continues, the letters to the editor page may soon become the most read feature of the Daily News.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
The Daily News

Page four
Thursday, December 20, 2007

COUNCIL COULD EASILY GIVE A LITTLE BACK
To the editor,
An open letter to city council

Can the city council be any more generous with the taxpaying people of Prince Rupert?

What a Christmas gift you present to taxpayers. Talk about Scrooge. How did you ever come up with a five million dollar budget you underestimated? We are not talking nickels and dimes here.
A little thing you could do, for a Christmas thought, is show us you are willing to give a little, instead of just taking.

Let the boat ramp and parking lot at Rushbrook Floats be free during the winter months, say from October until April. There are not tourists here at that time, just us residents. It’s not much but it will show you are willing to give a little.

Is it possible that all the cruise ships that come here and all the passengers that the cruise our streets could pay something like a levy here?

You talk about the town booming – where? I see businesses still closing down, still a lot of people unemployed.

Investors from out of town who have big bucks come here and buy up homes and apartments on speculation. Real estate prices now soar out of reach.

For most young people just starting out, a wartime house sitting on pilings on a 30 foot by 100 foot lot is $100,000. Get real!

The real estate prices are so overly inflated it drives the assessments on homes up, thus more taxes again for the city.

You know, in Prince Rupert we have a real shortage of places for the elderly to live. Why is this?

On a recent trip to Nanaimo on Vancouver Island, we have friends who are over 65, and they pay only $100 a year for taxes.

If Nanaimo can do this, is there any chance Prince Rupert could help our elderly who have made the town what it is today? They have paid taxes here most of their lives. A few who are living on just old age pension are forced into selling their homes, something they have worked for all their lives.

How depressing to lose your home because of high taxes and inflated prices for heat, electrical, phone, etc.

Living on just old age pension is not enough for all this and to buy food also.

The Home Owner’s Grant and the deduction for being over 65 is just not enough. The taxes are still too high.

How awful to see something you have worked for all your life just disappear.

Older people who lived in their own home are happy and healthy. Those who lose their homes soon fall into depression, and with depression, hope falls away and sickness takes over.

Now what do you do?

You put them in Acropolis Manor where they are forgotten about.

Let us try to do more for our elderly so they can keep their homes.

Tom Kingshott