Skeena MLA Ellis Ross challenges views of Actor/Environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio

Headline to a National Post feature this weekend where 
Skeena MLA Ellis Ross challenged some of the themes
of a recent social media post from Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio
(From the National Post November 26th edition)

We're not sure if Ellis Ross has ever picked Leonardo DiCaprio in an Oscar Pool, but the Hollywood celebrity is certainly on the MLA's A list for correspondences these days.

The Skeena MLA received some national and international attention over the weekend  after he contributed an editorial piece for the National Post on Friday.  

The MLA taking on Hollywood heavyweight Leonardo DiCaprio, that following some comments the actor and environmental activist made on the current situation related to the Coastal GasLink pipeline in the Wet'suwet'en Territory.

Mr. Ross's contribution to the National Post came following a social media note from the Actor and Environmentalist that outlined his thoughts on recent Wet'suwet'en events. 

Leonardo DiCaprio's twitter message of November 22nd

In what the National Post calls an Open letter to a misinformed movie star the Skeena MLA notes of his confusion and alarm at the twitter shout out of November 22nd, observing that perhaps the actor with his busy schedule had not heard the full story behind the Coastal GasLink pipeline project.

Mr. Ross then outlines for Mr. DiCaprio some background as to how the support the project has received from a number of elected Chiefs along the route and observes how the actor is ignoring the democratic rights of thousands of First Nations people.

The remainder of his letter to the actor travels much of the same path as his past commentaries both in the Legislature and away from it, when it comes to the development of resources in the province and how First Nations can share in the opportunities that the development offers.

He wraps up his correspondence with an invitation for the actor to come visit his home community of Kitimaat Village to learn more about how the Haisla have approached the themes of development and environment.

You can review the full Open letter here.

It's not the first time that the Hollywood actor has taken an interest in Canadian resource development, in 2016 he raised his concerns over the fate of the Canadian Arctic and the ongoing development of the Alberta oilsands.

More notes on the work of the Skeena MLA can be reviewed from our archive page.