TransCanada invades Lubicon Territory

TransCanada invades Lubicon Territory

TransCanada invades Lubicon Territory ... in order to "meet the public interest"?
Now this deserves a response.

November 17, 2008

On the facebook group wall (under recent news) is a self-explanatory letter dated November 13 from Lubicon Councilors Alphonse Ominayak, Dwight Gladue, and Larry Ominayak to TransCanada Corporation Vice Presidents Stephen Clark and Steve Schock.

The letter details conversations between the Lubicon Nation and TransCanada Corporation representatives during the past two weeks -- conversations which were marked by a complete unwillingness on the part of TransCanada to alter anything fundamental about its proposed North Central Crossing Pipeline, including the site of its 600-person contractor camp near Lubicon fisheries and traditional sites, because to alter anything might impact on its self-imposed construction timetables.

The Councilors’ letter is followed by a November 15th response from TransCanada Vice Presidents Clark and Schock which claims, amongst other things, that "TransCanada has received all necessary permits and approvals required to construct and operate the North Central Corridor pipeline project" even though they’ve received no approvals from the Aboriginal owners of the lands through which the pipeline passes and on which the company is installing a 600-person contractor camp.

Clark and Schock further claim that they cannot move the 600-person contractor camp further away from the 500-person Lubicon community and outside of Lubicon Territory (which they call the "teardrop" because of the shape of its outline on a map), and that they must begin construction of their pipeline because "TransCanada has an obligation to build this facility in a timely manner to meet the public interest".

The public oughta tell TransCanada that its interests aren’t served by steamrolling over Aboriginal communities, that its interests aren’t served by ignoring international human rights conventions, that its interests aren’t served by pretending to listen to Aboriginal people as long as there’s never any question of having to alter any of the company’s original plans or timetables, and especially that the public is sick and tired of corporate executives who pretend their pursuit of private profit has anything whatsoever to do with the "public interest".

TransCanada’s President and CEO is:

Harold Kvisle
President and Chief Executive Officer
TransCanada Pipelines Limited
450 - 1st Street SW
Calgary, Alberta T2P 5H1
Phone: 403-920-6144
Fax: 403-920-2354

His email is: hal_kvisle@transcanada.com