Gulf Islands Connecting the Islands of the Salish Sea Archipelago Since 1989 Volume 24 Number 22 November 1–14, 2012 $2 at Selected Retailers Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement Nº 40020421 Photo: TJ Watt On October 22 at 11am, 5,000 people packed the BC Legislature lawn in Victoria to listen to First Nations leaders, trade and professional union leaders, NDP MLAs, and MP Elizabeth May, speak against oil tankers, pipelines and the tar sands. In the afternoon, as the colourful crowd started to disperse, direct action took place. A crew staked a 245-metre-long black banner, representing the length of an oil supertanker, around the lawn. (See pages 6 and 7 for more of the story and a photo-spread of people and banners.) Fish controversy nets Sterling prize Federal by-elections on November 26 The often viciously-targeted authors of more says Morton. ‘I simply remain dedicated to Monday, November 26 is the date set for two Murray Rankin (NDP), Donald Galloway (Green) than a decade of research on the fate of BC’s using science to measure and define the Western Canada federal by-elections, in Calgary and Paul Summerville (Liberal) will contest the wild salmon have netted a befitting prize impact of farm salmon pathogens on wild and Victoria. from Simon Fraser University. Fish seat vacated by Denise Savoie. salmon. My observations suggest the impact Voters in Calgary Centre will go to the polls for population statistician Rick Routledge and Of her resignation, Savoie commented, ‘After is very serious and government is afraid to the seat vacated by Conservative Lee Richardson, fish biologist Alexandra Morton are the 2012 six years in the House of Commons and nearly 13 do anything about it.’ who took a job with Alberta Premier Alison Redford. recipients of SFU’s Nora and Ted Sterling years as an elected official, I have decided to return Governments, the aquaculture industry Calagry Centre adjoins Prime Minister Stephen Prize in Support of Controversy. to private life. My doctor gave me a health warning and lobbyists have repeatedly and alternately Harper riding. Chris Turner, author of books and Routledge and Morton were presented this spring and recommended that I adopt a more vilified, lauded and dismissed Routledge and articles about global renewable energy and with the prize at an October 24 ceremony Morton since the duo first teamed up to sustainable technology initiatives, has thrown his balanced lifestyle, without the travel and physical at the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue, study the potential impacts of aquaculture hat into the ring for the Green Party. NDPcandidate demands of the job of an MP from Western SFU Vancouver. After the ceremony, the on Canadian wild salmon stocks. Dan Meades, Liberal Harvey Locke and Canada. I am therefore resigning as the Member two delivered their lecture, Salmon Farms That was in the early 2000s when they Conservative Joan Crockatt complete the Calgary of Parliament for Victoria.’ and Disease: The Importance of Both linked sea lice-infested fish farms in the slate. A third by-election is slated for Durham, Academic Freedom and Community- Broughton Archipelago to the death of In Victoria riding, Dale Gann (Conservative), Ontario. 0 Engaged Research. juvenile salmon swimming past them and The Sterling award honours work that declining salmon runs in BC. Since then challenges complacency and provokes Province-wide day of action draws more people than expected they’ve contributed to many published controversy or contributes to its scientific papers and had their reputations Following the Victoria rally on the BC Legislature ‘From Kamloops and Kelowna to Fort St James understanding. The duo is happy to receive vindicated by other researchers who’ve lawn on Monday, October 22, thousands rallied on and Campbell River, British Columbians came out the award but acknowledged the damage Wednesday, October 24 across BC at MLA offices en masse today to remind their politicians who caused by controversy. confirmed and extended their findings. in 70 locations—from Prince George to Osoyoos. they are elected to represent. Politicians from coast ‘The controversy has been very Routledge and Morton incurred the Leadnow, organizer of the province-wide to coast ought to take note that proposals to bring counterproductive,’ says Routledge, whom wrath of the aquaculture industry when they Defend Our Coast Day of Action, reported higher oil pipelines and tankers are politically toxic in fish farmers have labeled an activist. ‘It has recently announced at a news conference than expected turn-outs, estimating that 5,000 every corner of BC.’ delayed vitally important regulatory changes they’d made the first discovery in BC (Rivers people gathered to link arms in front of offices. ‘We know we have our MLAs’ attention,’ said that are needed if we are to reduce the Inlet) of the infectious salmon anemia virus ‘This was a much bigger turnout than we Nowak. ‘When you have upwards of 500 people currently unacceptable risks to the in wild salmon. expected,’ said Leadnow’s local action coordinator, gathering on short notice in places like Sechelt, and preservation of abundant runs of wild Pacific The duo’s work has been tied to the Nadia Nowak. ‘Four people RSVP’d in Bella Bella, upwards of 200 people in Salmon Arm, you can salmon.’ federal government taking back 120 turned out. We’re seeing hundreds of people see in the flesh what polling has been telling us for Morton agrees, but notes government responsibility for fisheries management in in communities throughout BC.’ some time. British Columbians strongly oppose and industry ridicule of their research has BC, and contributed to the launch of the Emma Gilchrist, Communications Director for pipeline and tanker expansion, and they are had an ironic impact on public support. 2009 Cohen Commission’s inquiry into the Dogwood Initiative, the co-organizer, pointed to mobilizing in their communities to make sure their ‘What they don’t understand is the more we decline of Fraser River wild salmon, due to how widespread the actions were. elected officials get the message.’ 0 get attacked the higher our credibility rises,’ release its findings October 30, 2012. 0 is at these SERIOUS COFFEE locations — look for the ‘Island Tides’ yellow boxes outside or racks inside! Sidney—Beacon Avenue Nanaimo—VI Conference Centre Parksville—Heritage Centre Mall South Duncan—Sun Valley Mall Nanaimo—Beaufort Centre Courtenay—Southgate Centre, Cliffe Avenue Nanaimo—Crnr Island Hwy @ Hammond Bay Rd Duncan—Cowichan Commons Mall Port Alberni—Shoppers Drugmart Plaza, 10th Ave Nanaimo—South Parkway Plaza Mill Bay—Island Highway @ Frayne Rd Nanaimo—Hammond Bay Rd CO-OP Campbell River—Willow Point Village Page 2, ISLAND TIDES, November 1, 2012 Chinese investment agreement ‘unconstitutional’; Canadians call on Premier Clark to assess BC impacts AT POINT ATKINSON remier Christy Clark must demand more time from the of unilaterally implementing international treaty obligations in NOVEMBER Harper government to assess the impacts of the Canada- areas that fall within provincial jurisdiction. Nor is it acceptable Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. Day Time Ht./ft. Ht./m. China Foreign Investment Protection and Promotion for the federal government to use its treaty-making powers to AgreementP (Canada-China FIPA) on the province’s constitutional do an end run around the federal-provincial division of powers 0701 14.8 4.5 0528 7.2 2.2 31 1228 10.5 3.2 8 1238 14.4 4.4 responsibility for natural resources, conservation, environmental or in a way that diminishes Canadian federalism and WE 1717 13.1 4.0 TH 1943 7.5 2.3 protection and labour rights, says the Council of Canadians. democracy.’ If this request is refused, the BC government has a Chill Effect 0022 3.3 1.0 0115 10.8 3.3 0741 14.8 4.5 0638 7.9 2.4 responsibility to protect its constitutional authority by filing an The COC explains that the Canada-China FIPA would leave TH1 1309 10.8 3.3 FR9 1316 14.4 4.4 immediate injunction against the expected November 1 Canada vulnerable to corporate disputes involving projects 1744 13.1 4.0 2020 6.2 1.9 ratification so that an impact assessment and public debate can where there is any degree of Chinese investment. Any refusal to 0055 3.6 1.1 0232 11.8 3.6 0822 14.8 4.5 0746 8.5 2.6 take place, Council of Canadians (COC) continues. run a pipeline through BC, for example, could result in claims FR2 1355 10.8 3.3 10SA 1353 14.4 4.4 ‘The province cannot let Harper give Chinese companies, that a Chinese firm had been denied national treatment and 12.5 2058 4.9 1.5 1813 3.8 state-owned or otherwise, a 31-year trump card on decisions most-favoured nation treatment guarantees, or fair and 0128 3.6 1.1 0334 13.1 4.0 equitable treatment. These protections may sound reasonable, 0904 14.8 4.5 0847 9.2 2.8 related to pipelines, oil, gas and mining projects. This is exactly SA3 1449 10.8 3.3 11SU 1430 14.8 4.5 what the Canada-China investment treaty will do by giving but private arbitration panels are interpreting them far too 1846 12.1 3.7 2137 3.3 1.0 foreign investors excessive rights to profit and the ability to broadly, such that a country can be fined hundreds of millions 0204 4.3 1.3 0429 14.1 4.3 challenge public policy in closed-door tribunals shielded from of dollars for otherwise legal changes to project approvals or 0948 14.8 4.5 0942 9.8 3.0 SU4 1556 10.8 3.3 12MO 1508 15.1 4.6 Canadian law and the courts,’ says Maude Barlow, national environmental rules.