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Coastal GasLink Pipeline
Map of pipeline route.
Map of pipeline route.
Location
CountryCanada
ProvinceBritish Columbia
FromDawson Creek, British Columbia
ToKitimat, British Columbia
General information
TypeNatural Gas
OwnerTC Energy[1]
PartnersLNG Canada, Korea Gas Corporation, Mitsubishi, PetroChina, Petronas
Construction started2019
Technical information
Length670 km (420 mi)

The Coastal GasLink Pipeline is a TC Energy natural gas pipeline under construction in British Columbia, Canada. Starting in Dawson Creek, the pipeline's route crosses through the Canadian Rockies and other mountain ranges to Kitimat, where the gas will be exported to Asian customers. Its route passes through several First Nations peoples' traditional lands, including some that are unceded. Although supported by many First Nations peoples, and approved by First Nations' elected councils, the hereditary chiefs of the Wetʼsuwetʼen people withheld their approval on ecological grounds and organized a blockade of construction within the Wetʼsuwetʼen peoples' traditional lands. A court injunction against those blocking the project was granted twice by the BC Supreme Court, in 2018 and 2019. In 2019 and 2020, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) entered the blocked area and cleared road access for construction, arresting several of the pipeline opponents. The 2020 arrests have sparked widespread protests across Canada in solidarity with the original protests. Protests have targeted government offices, ports and rail lines. A protest in February by the Mohawk First Nation people of Tyendinaga in Ontario has blocked a critical segment of rail, causing Via Rail to shut down Canadian passenger rail service and Canadian National Railway (CNR) to shut down freight service in eastern Canada.

Project

The Coastal GasLink Pipeline is owned and operated by TC Energy.[1] LNG Canada selected TC Energy to design, build, and own the pipeline in 2012.[1] The natural gas transported by the pipeline will be converted into liquefied natural gas by LNG Canada in Kitimat and then exported to global markets. In particular, the company expects the natural gas will help divert emissions resulting from coal-burning in Asia.[2] Its estimated cost is CA$6.6 billion.[3]

Construction is underway in most segments of the project except for one section south-west of the town of Houston, which runs through part of the traditional lands of the Wetʼsuwetʼen First Nation people.[4] The hereditary chiefs of the Wetʼsuwetʼen oppose the project and have blocked construction through the section.

Route

The pipeline's route starts near Dawson Creek and runs approximately 670 kilometres (420 mi) south-west to a liquification plant near Kitimat.[5] Along the way, the pipeline passes through the traditional territories of several First Nations. As a result of consultations, the 42-kilometre "South of Houston" section of the pipeline was changed in 2017 to be 3.5 kilometres south of the originally planned route.[6]

Other alternative routes proposed by the Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs during the six years prior to construction were rejected by Coastal GasLink. Reasons originally cited on August 21, 2014 included the longer length of the proposed route, its inability to accommodate the necessary diameter of pipeline, its closer proximity to several urban communities, and the requirement to consult with an additional four First Nations who were not impacted by the main route. The last requirement would add up to a year to development time.[7] On January 27, Coastal GasLink president David Pfeiffer stated that the current route was most technically viable and minimized impact to the environment.[7]

Consultation

The pipeline's route runs through multiple traditional territories. Consultation with local band councils was held as part of the planning and construction process.

Approval was given by twenty elected First Nation band councils (including the Wetʼsuwetʼen elected band council) along the proposed route and the Government of British Columbia. As a part of their agreement, TC Energy announced it will be awarding CA$620 million in contract work to northern B.C. First Nations.[8][9]

The project is opposed by the hereditary chiefs of the Wetʼsuwetʼen, other First Nations peoples, and environment activists.[10] The chiefs claim a responsibility to protect the traditional territory lands, unlike the elected band councils, which were imposed under the Indian Act.

Opponents to the project also note that the 22,000 square kilometres (8,500 sq mi) of Wetʼsuwetʼen territory was never ceded to the Government of Canada.[11] The then colony of British Columbia did not enter into treaties with First Nations peoples over its territory, including the Wetʼsuwetʼen people before joining Canada, and the chiefs claim aboriginal title over the land has not been extinguished as a consequence. The Supreme Court of Canada affirmed that principle in the 1997 Delgamuukw v British Columbia decision.[4]

Protests

Original protests and injunction

Wetʼsuwetʼen protesters blocked the forest service road that provides access to construction of the pipeline project. The first injunction was issued by the B.C. Supreme Court in December 2018.[12] This injunction was extended by the B.C. Supreme Court on December 31, 2019. The extension included an order authorizing the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to enforce the injunction.[13]

The RCMP announced January 30, 2020, that they would stand down while the hereditary chiefs and the province met to discuss and try to come to an agreement.[14] However, all parties issued statements on February 4, 2020 that the talks had broken down.[15]

On February 6, the RCMP began enforcing the injunction, arresting a total of 21 protesters at camps along the route between February 6 and 9.[16] The largest of those camps is Unistʼotʼen Camp, directly in the path of the pipeline, established in 2010 as a checkpoint, which has since become a healing centre.[16][17] The RCMP also detained several reporters and have been accused of interfering with the freedom of the press.[17][18]

Canada-wide solidarity protests

The actions of the RCMP sparked protests across Canada in solidarity with the Wet'suwet'en. Members of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation began a blockade of rail lines near Belleville, Ontario on February 6, 2020,[19] causing Via Rail to cancel trains on their Toronto–Montreal and Toronto-Ottawa routes.[20][21][22] Other protests blocking rail lines halted service on Via Rail's Prince Rupert and Prince George lines, running on Canadian National Railroad tracks.[20][23] Protests on the CNR line west of Winnipeg additionally blocked the only trans-Canada passenger rail route.[24]

Solidarity protests disrupted GO train lines in the metro Toronto region and Exo's Candiac line in Montreal. [20][25] CPR rail lines were also disrupted in downtown Toronto and south of Montreal.[26] The Société du Chemin de fer de la Gaspésie (SCFG) freight railway between Gaspé and Matapedia was blockaded on February 10.[27]

Several major protests blocked access to the Port of Vancouver, Deltaport, and two other ports in Metro Vancouver for a number of days before the Metro Vancouver police began enforcing an injunction on the morning of February 10, 2020, arresting 47 protesters who refused to cease obstructing the port.[28][29][9] However, 66 shipping vessels were stalled in Vancouver and Prince Rupert as of February 14, waiting to load or unload goods.[30]

Protests on January 20 disrupted BC ferry service leaving from Schwartz Bay, which is Victoria's main ferry link to mainland BC.[31] BC ferries obtained a preemptive injunction to prevent anticipated future demonstrations from blocking Vancouver-Victoria ferry service.[32]

On February 11, 2020, the RCMP announced that the road to the construction site was cleared[33] and TC Energy announced that work would resume the following Monday.[34] That same day, protesters surrounded the BC Legislature, preventing the traditional ceremonies around the reading of the Throne Speech by the Lieutenant Governor.[35] Members of the Legislature had to have police assistance to enter or used back or side entrances.[36] Other protests took place in Nelson,[37] Calgary,[38] Regina,[39] Winnipeg,[40] Toronto,[41] Ottawa,[42] Sherbrooke,[43] and Halifax.[44][45]

Rail shutdown

Starting on February 6, Via Rail announced passenger train cancellations on a day-to-day basis. No passenger trains were running on the Toronto-Ottawa or Toronto-Montreal lines between February 7 and February 13. Prince George-Prince Rupert service was suspended on February 11. Canadian National Railway (CNR) rail freight traffic was also halted along these lines. Other Canadian routes were intermittently disrupted as well.[46]

On February 13, CNR shut down its rail lines east of Toronto.[46] On the same day Via Rail, which rents these lines for its passenger service, announced it would be shutting down its entire network, with the exception of the Sudbury–White River train line and the Winnipeg–Churchill train between Churchill and The Pas, until further notice.[47][48][49] On February 18, Via announced that partial service would resume between Quebec City, Montreal and Ottawa on February 20 with the permission of CNR.[50]

Amtrak international service from New York City to Toronto and Montreal has not been affected.

CNR has several active injunctions against the protestors. However, the rail shutdown and several key blockades continue as of February 18.

Market and supply chain disruption

Much of Canada's rail network serves regions which have little road access and no other public transit options. As a result, the rail shutdown and its attendant supply disruptions have had severe economic, social, and potentially life-threatening consequences.

Due to a poor growing season which resulted in an unusually late harvest just before Christmas, Canadian wheat and barley farmers have been severely impacted by the rail blockade in getting their crop to market.[51] Spring farm supplies such as fertilizer are also delayed by the rail shutdown.[52] Canadian grain farmers have previously advocated to have rail transport declared an essential service.[53]

Dennis Darby, president and CEO of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters Association, states that Canadian manufacturers rely on 4,500 rail cars per day, which represent both supply chain and delivery of finished products. Many of these products are too large or bulky to be shipped by other means. The total value of these deliveries amounts to $200 billion of GDP annually.[54]

Disruption of fuel oil and propane deliveries have created extreme shortages in many rural communities.[55] Many of these communities experienced extreme cold weather at Environment Canada's warning criteria levels during the blockade period.[56] In Atlantic Canada, at the end of the propane supply line, reserves have fallen to just five days.[57]

Rail layoffs

CNR layoffs related to the pipeline disruptions began on February 16; CNR has stated that as many as 6,000 of its 24,000 employees could be laid off.[58] SCFG laid off five of its 30 employees on February 14.[59]

Negotiation

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that the Canadian government should not tell the police what to do, and that resolution should come through dialogue.[60]

Starting on February 12, Federal Indigenous Services Minister Marc Miller has been in active negotiation with several indigenous leaders from different parts of Canada. Talks are ongoing.[61]

The rail blockade of Prince Rupert was lifted on February 14.[62]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "About Coastal GasLink". coastalgaslink.com. TransCanada Pipelines Limited. Retrieved February 9, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ "TC Energy - Coastal GasLink". tcenergy.com. Retrieved February 9, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Coastal Gaslink Chaos: Two-in-five support protesters in natural gas project dispute; half support pipeline". angusreid.org. Angus Reid. February 13, 2010.
  4. ^ a b Hernandez, Jon (February 13, 2019). "'We still have title': How a landmark B.C. court case set the stage for Wet'suwet'en protests". cbc.ca. CBC News.
  5. ^ "Coastal GasLink - Approved route".
  6. ^ "Studying the south of Houston alternate route".
  7. ^ a b "Why Coastal GasLink says it rejected a pipeline route endorsed by Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs". CBC News. February 16, 2020.
  8. ^ "Coastal GasLink awards $620 million in contracting opportunities to First Nations". The Interior News. June 28, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ^ a b Austen, Ian (February 10, 2020). "Canadian Police Move Against Pipeline Blockades". The New York Times. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Snuneymuxw, Nanaimo residents stand in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en in pipeline protest". Nanaimo News Bulletin. February 8, 2020. Retrieved February 12, 2020.
  11. ^ Bellrichard, Chantelle; Barrera, Jorge (February 9, 2020). "Day 4: RCMP continue enforcement against Wet'suwet'en over pipeline injunction". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ^ "A timeline on rail disruptions by anti-pipeline protesters across Canada". The Province. February 16, 2020.
  13. ^ Lindsay, Bethany (December 31, 2019). "B.C. Supreme Court grants injunction against Wet'suwet'en protesters in pipeline standoff". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 9, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ^ Uguen-Csenge, Eva. "RCMP to stand down as Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs and province start de-escalation talks". cbc.ca. CBC News.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  15. ^ Bellrichard, Chantelle (February 5, 2020). "Talks break down between province, Wet'suwet'en hereditary chiefs over Coastal GasLink pipeline standoff". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ^ a b Bellrichard, Chantelle (February 10, 2020). "Arrests begin at Unist'ot'en as RCMP enforces Coastal Gaslink injunction against Wet'suwet'en". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ^ a b McIntosh, Emma (February 10, 2020). "RCMP breach final Wet'suwet'en camp in the path of Coastal GasLink pipeline". Canada's National Observer. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Mae Jones, Alexandra (February 10, 2020). "Journalists say RCMP blocking efforts to cover police raids on Wet'suwet'en camps". ctvnews.ca. CTV News. Retrieved February 11, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Spitters, John (February 7, 2020). "PHOTOS: Tyendinaga protesters stop train traffic". Quinte News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ a b c Mazur, Alexandra (February 10, 2020). "B.C. pipeline protests continue to halt Ontario trains for 5th day in a row". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "VIA Rail Passenger Trains Impacted by Tyendinaga Mohawk Blockade". NetNewsLedger. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Gallant, Jacques; Hunter, Paul (February 8, 2020). "Protests shut down Ontario rail lines in support of Wet'suwet'en Nation". Toronto Star. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ Cook, Benson (February 10, 2020). "Pipeline demonstration halts service on Exo's Candiac line in Montreal". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ^ "A timeline on rail disruptions by anti-pipeline protesters across Canada | the Province". February 16, 2020.
  25. ^ Cook, Benson (February 10, 2020). "Pipeline demonstration halts service on Exo's Candiac line in Montreal". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  26. ^ "A timeline on rail disruptions by anti-pipeline protesters across Canada | the Province". February 16, 2020.
  27. ^ "Trudeau will not direct police to break up pipeline protests, sticks to negotiated strategy".
  28. ^ "B.C. pipeline protesters vow to ignore injunction, keep Vancouver ports blocked". globalnews.ca. Global News. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  29. ^ "Metro Vancouver port blockade prompts injunction, 47 arrested on Monday morning". Vancouver Sun. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  30. ^ economic-impact-cn-rail-blockades-slow-downs-1
  31. ^ "Pipeline protest impacts multiple BC Ferries sailings". CTV News. January 20, 2020.
  32. ^ "BC Ferries wins injunction against protesters at Swartz Bay". CTV News. February 15, 2020.
  33. ^ Berman, Sarah (February 11, 2020). "RCMP Says It's Done Raiding Wet'suwet'en Land—For Now". vice.com. Retrieved February 11, 2020.
  34. ^ Bellrichard, Chantelle (February 11, 2020). "Coastal GasLink returning to work in injunction area in Wet'suwet'en territory". cbc.ca. CBC News.
  35. ^ "Anti-pipeline protesters remain at B.C. legislature in Victoria as arrests made in Vancouver". vancouverisland.ctvnews.ca. CTV News Vancouver Island. February 10, 2020. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  36. ^ Zussman, Richard (February 11, 2010). "Wet'suwet'en solidarity protesters block entrance to B.C. legislature ahead of throne speech". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 11, 2010.
  37. ^ Metcalfe, Bill (February 11, 2020). "Nelson residents gather in support of Wet'suwet'en chiefs". Nelson Star. Retrieved February 11, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  38. ^ Pearson, Heide (February 10, 2020). "Wet'suwet'en support rally blocks Calgary's Reconciliation Bridge". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  39. ^ Giesbrecht, Lynne (February 9, 2020). "More than 100 Reginans rally in support of Wet'suwet'en pipeline protest". Regina Leader-Post. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  40. ^ DePatie, Mason (February 10, 2020). "Wet'suwet'en support protest to shut down Portage Avenue on Monday". winnipeg.ctvnews.ca. CTV News Winnipeg. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  41. ^ Rocca, Ryan (February 9, 2020). "Protesters opposing B.C. pipeline block rail line in Toronto". globalnews.ca. Global news. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  42. ^ Hemens, Aaron (February 8, 2020). "Hundreds rally in Ottawa in solidarity with Wet'suwet'en First Nation". The Fulcrum. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  43. ^ Lambie, Gordon (February 11, 2020). "Sherbrooke joins growing wave of Wetʼsuwetʼen demonstrations". The Record e-edition. Retrieved February 11, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  44. ^ D'Amore, Rachael (February 10, 2020). "Wet'suwet'en: Here's where solidarity protests are happening across Canada". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  45. ^ Johnson, Rhiannon (February 10, 2020). "RCMP arrests in Wet'suwet'en territory spark protests nationwide". cbc.ca. CBC News. Retrieved February 10, 2020.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  46. ^ a b "A timeline on rail disruptions by anti-pipeline protesters across Canada". The Province. February 16, 2020.
  47. ^ Tasker, John Paul (February 13, 2020). "Via Rail cancels most trains nationwide, CN closes Eastern Canadian network as Indigenous protests continue". cbc.ca. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  48. ^ Shah, Maryam (February 13, 2020). "Via Rail cancels most trains across the country as CN shuts down rails in eastern Canada". globalnews.ca. Global News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  49. ^ Slaughter, Graham (February 13, 2020). "VIA Rail cancels trains across Canada, CN shuts down Eastern Canada network amid pipeline protests". ctvnews.ca. CTV News. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
  50. ^ Via Rail (February 18, 2020). "PARTIAL VIA RAIL SERVICE TO RESUME BETWEEN QUÉBEC CITY AND OTTAWA". viarail.ca (Press release). Via Rail. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  51. ^ "'Nearing a crisis situation': Rail blockades creating backlogs for farmers". CTV News. February 17, 2020.
  52. ^ "'We are dependent on rail': Ontario grain farmers feeling the impact of rail stoppage". CTV News. February 16, 2020.
  53. ^ "'Nearing a crisis situation': Rail blockades creating backlogs for farmers". CTV News. February 17, 2020.
  54. ^ "As economic impact of rail blockades grows, protesters say fundamental rights are at stake". CTV News. February 14, 2020.
  55. ^ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/rail-blockade-shortages-propane-retail-council-of-canada-canadian-propane-association-1.5465945
  56. ^ https://www.thesudburystar.com/news/local-news/sudbury-much-of-northeast-under-extreme-cold-weather-advisory
  57. ^ "As economic impact of rail blockades grows, protesters say fundamental rights are at stake". February 14, 2020.
  58. ^ "CN Rail lays off staff as pipeline protests limit deliveries to Maritimes". CBC News.
  59. ^ "Trudeau will not direct police to break up pipeline protests, sticks to negotiated strategy".
  60. ^ "Trudeau will not direct police to break up pipeline protests, sticks to negotiated strategy". The Globe and Mail.
  61. ^ Marc Miller [@MarcMillerVM] (February 13, 2020). "Yesterday evening, I sent this email to Kanenhariyo, Chief Maracle and Regional Chief Archibald in regards to the current situation in Tyendinaga. #cdnpoli" (Tweet). Retrieved February 14, 2020 – via Twitter.
  62. ^ "A timeline on rail disruptions by anti-pipeline protesters across Canada". The Province. February 16, 2020.
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