KAMLOOPS — A couple of thoughts today on the ever-shifting tarsands, if you’ll excuse the pun.
Two phrases are tossed around almost daily in connection with the Trans Mountain pipeline. One of them is, “reconciliation.” The other is “whatever it takes.”
I really wonder whether reconciliation is even possible on something like Trans Mountain. Thirty-three bands in B.C. — including the Simpcw First Nation in the North Thompson — support the project, but many others clearly don’t — among them the Neskonlith Band east of Kamloops.
Tuesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with a group of First Nations representatives who support the pipeline. Outside was a group who don’t.
I heard a Band spokesman say the other day that the pipeline is contrary to the spirit of reconciliation. Others say it’s key.
What a pipeline has to do with reconciliation beats me. If there’s such division on this single issue of what constitutes reconciliation and what doesn’t, how can we ever expect to declare “Mission accomplished.”
The clear answer is, we can’t. Doesn’t reconciliation have to include everyone?
Which brings us to “whatever it takes.” How often do we hear a determined pipeline opponent saying protesters will do “whatever it takes” for “as long as it takes” to stop the pipeline?
It may sound like a trite phrase but it would be frightening if intended literally. “Whatever it takes” could involve all kinds of bad stuff.
It’s bad enough that protesters are violating court orders. Anti-pipeline rallies are going on across the country right now and it’s reasonable to ask protesters what they mean when they say “whatever it takes.”
How about if they add “within the law” to that?
But no, they talk about being willing to go to jail instead.
Such unshakable obstinacy guarantees there will be winners and losers instead of middle ground. Rather than viewing the issue from their own self-interest and tearing the country apart, maybe those people making all the noise should be doing “whatever it takes” to bring us together.
I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.
