Ellis Ross calls on Horgan Government to ensure rule of law is followed on Coastal GasLink

Skeena MLA Ellis Ross used the forum of the BC Legislature to speak to the recent attack on the Coastal GasLink work camp near Houston.

With the MLA noting of some of the past history for the project and how he views it that the NDP government has not been engaged enough over the last five years of the projects progress to assist and ensure that the project reach completion.

Mr. Ross spoke to the topic as part of the Question Period on Tuesday morning.   

"This government has allowed a legally approved project, supported by First Nations all along Highway 16 and down channel, including the Gitga'at Nation and Gitxaała, to be repeatedly harassed and delayed. 

The Wet'suwet'en First Nation, which the province has ignored for the past several years, has issued this statement: "We call on those who are inviting violent non-Wet'suwet'en people into our territories to withdraw their invitations. We call on their supporters, wherever they are, to stop funding criminal protests and to stop trespassing on our traditional lands." 

So my question is to the Premier. When will the Premier stop these protests, and get this project completed?

Premier Hogan did not respond to the inquiry in the Chamber, with Harry Rankin. Minister of Indigenous Relations and Reconciliation taking the lead to the topic; speaking to the violence of the incident and  noting of the ongoing RCMP investigation into it.

"As the member indicated, during the early morning hours of February 17, approximately 20 masked and violent attackers wearing camouflage surrounded and attacked Coastal GasLink workers near Houston, British Columbia. 

They wielded axes, swinging them at vehicles and through a truck's window, and fired flare guns at workers. 

Workers deserve to be safe at work. The attack is absolutely reprehensible. It's a serious and violent criminal act, and our government has emphatically condemned it, as have members from all sides of this House. 

The member knows that the RCMP is conducting a thorough investigation to identify and apprehend those responsible. I suggest the members opposite should allow the police to conduct that investigation."

It was an answer that did not quite fulfill Mr. Ross's hopes, with the Skeena MLA expanding on the mixed messaging as he sees it that the provincial government has delivered on law enforcement actions of the past, noting of some past engagement from the MLA for Stikine.

"The member for Stikine wrote a letter complaining the RCMP were too mean when workers were basically being held hostage by protesters. This government has consistently ignored and disrespected the elected Chiefs and councils, letting the protesters know that this government has their back. 

This isn't just about denouncing violence or reciting what was read in the newspaper. That's obvious. 

This is about ensuring the rule of law and, more importantly, ensuring that the rule of law is followed — something that this government has completely failed to do. 

So my question to the Premier. 

Will the Premier finally support the First Nations along the route and ensure that this LNG export project proceeds smoothly?"

Mr Ross followed up on his concerns over the NDP's approach to the progress for the gas pipeline project, observing as to how the government appears to want to have things both ways.

"We know the RCMP will do their job and investigate. What we're asking about: will the government actually do its job and allow this project to succeed, and stop supporting these violent escalations? 

We have a minister of the Crown who is supposed to be taking over a new ministry responsible for and I quote  the "co-management of land and resources" with First Nations, endquote. 

This same minister has been criticizing the RCMP for their efforts to resolve this crisis. 

Now we're supposed to believe that the Minister of State for Lands and Natural Resources was wearing a different hat when it comes to resolving these violent attacks on Coastal GasLink workers. 

Just like the Minister of Citizens' Services, he continues to evade and rely on technicalities, to have it both ways. 

To the minister of state, how can we continue to believe that this government and this minister won't keep trying to have it both ways, now that this conflict has turned violent?

Towards a reply, Minster Rankin advised that the incident of last week is one that should be left to the RCMP to investigate and that no one should not jump to any conclusions.

Shirley Bond, who is still serving as Interim leader in the House until newly elected BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon takes a seat, also took on Mr. Rankin's narratives on the day, observing to how the issues have evolved over the last five years and speaking to the mishandling  that she sees from the NDP approach.

"Well, I think that the part the minister missed was that the NDP have mishandled this file from the beginning. Let's be clear. The minister of state was missing in action outside the House, and apparently, he's missing in action in the House today, instead of standing up and actually explaining why he sided with protesters. That's on his watch. Those are his words ... 

As we've said numerous times, in fact, the minister of state stood on the side of protesters. So will someone, anyone, on that side of the House take responsibility for the situation we find ourselves in and their complete failure to achieve any resolution at all? "

In reply Mr. Rankin recounted the previous history of the BC Liberals in government and the path chose on negotiations by the NDP once they took office.

The former government decided to negotiate solely with the elected Chiefs. Our government decided to work with the proper rights and title holder, as determined by the Supreme Court of Canada. But we are still also trying to engage with the elected Chiefs. 

I have spoken with every single one of them, I believe, or at least attempted to. I'm speaking with Chief Luggi, I think later today or certainly this week. I continue to reach out to Chief Nikal of Witset. 

I continue to try to work with them, just as I'm trying to achieve unity. But ultimately, that's for the Wet'suwet'en people to do. That nation has to figure it out. 

We've provided resources to help them on that journey. We are going to work with the federal government to implement the MOU that was signed.

The full back and forth between the NDP and Liberals can be reviewed from the BC Legislature Video Archive starting at the 10:20 AM minute mark. 

The investigation continues into the Coastal GasLink, to date the RCMP have not identified any suspects related to the violence of February 17th at the work camp.

More notes on the work of Northwest MLA's in the Legislature can be explored here.