Whistlerites interested in showing their opposition to the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline will have a chance to participate in a peaceful protest march through the Village next Wednesday (Oct. 24).
Communities across the province are planning a Defend Our Coast day of action to demonstration the growing opposition to the risks posed by pipelines and tankers.
Locally Kim Saprunoff is organizing a march beginning from the base of the two mountains that will go through the Village and end at Celebration Plaza.
“I am opposed to the pipeline and I don’t think that bitumen and tarsands oil should be transferred through northern British Columbia or down our coast in tankers at all – that is why I am doing this,” Saprunoff said. “I also think it is a good opportunity on a provincial scale for the people of Whistler to show their opposition with the rest of the province on the same day at the same time.”
She noted that Whistler’s mayor and council passed a motion expressing their position against the proposed pipeline.
Saprunoff said an environmental catastrophe were to occur as a result of the pipeline tourism in places like Whistler, which draws visitors in part because of the natural environment, would suffer economically.
The province-wide day of action is the largest protest planned so far against the proposed pipeline and so far includes 35 communities.
“The majority of British Columbians have serious concerns about the expansion of tar sands pipelines and tankers,” said Nadia Nowak, Local Outreach Coordinator for Leadnow.ca. “People from all walks of life — First Nations, ranchers, fishermen, business owners, foresters, teachers – are stepping up and coming together like never before to form a wall of opposition and call on our provincial leaders to defend our coast.”
