A very sobering article. The consequences of a government blinded and consumed by ideology far removed from any reality. Rational thinking falls on deaf ears. Ignorance, that is lack of knowledge, is the order on both sides and the vast vast majority on both sides look on in disbelief.
Our Union Head, a Doctor teaching in our Health Care program, has had enough and is moving his family to Australia. His wife and 4 young children are a serious loss to my community. He knows, we all do that these events will be never ending. It just gets darker.
I too think it is likely to turn violent. This protest is actually already an extreme act of violence. The protesters are emboldened and they will see themselves as having gained a lot of ground. They are not going to let go of that sense of victory.
What seems unusual now is the sheer scale of disruption in the protests. Shutting down all the freight trains in half the country, and completely shutting down the entire national passenger train system covering all Canada. Then once they are shut down, all the goods they are supposed to be moving are just backing up in the system every day this blockade continues.
So along with the stopped train is all of the production and supply chain that goes with that train. Then there is the cost of layoffs not only on the railroads, but also in the entire chain of commerce. This seems like one heck of a protest. It is more like a besieging army trying to conquer a country. I think this could also spill over into the U.S.
Here is a good article about the cost of the railroad blockades. He does not give a dollar estimate, I suppose because nobody knows how long the blockades will last. But he does say it can quickly run into the billions of dollars, and it will take months longer to recover after the blockades come down.
https://business.financialpost.com/opinion/barry-prentice-the-high-costs-of-railroad-blockades-to-canadas-economy-and-reputation
Overall, this will be a staggering amount of real damage to the country all in the name of a so-called “peaceful protest.”
I think this whole situation is destined to end in violence, just like Oka.
By now the Ontario protesters have gotten used to being allowed to break the law, and have dug in too deep. I don't think they will settle for less than what they really want, and true settlement of land disputes cannot happen overnight, even if the Federal government agrees that is needed. Eventually the police will HAVE to go in and clear the way, except now they have mountains to move instead of a couple molehills, which is how this all started.
I hope I am wrong.
FYI - Pipeline construction is in full swing out here, on GasLink, Trans-Mountain, and several other large projects between Edmonton, Grande Prairie, and northeastern BC. We are still shipping large amounts of pipe, in fact, I met a X347 (Winnipeg-Prince George manifest) that had about 60 massive flatcars (93' long) of 36'' or 48'' pipe.
Ironically, that train did not get held up by any protesters.
Greetings from Alberta
-an Articulate Malcontent
This just pinged in from the Prime Ministers Office:
February 20, 2020Ottawa, Ontario
Note: All times local
The Prime Minister will convene the Incident Response Group to discuss the current blockades, support for families of victims of the Ukraine International Airlines tragedy in Iran and the coronavirus situation.
Closed to media.
Private meetings.
So, it's an item to be 'discussed' tomorrow along with 2 other items.
My suggestions... send in the Albertans.
Quebec and the Maritimes are running out of propane, again. Maybe that will spur the politicians and police into action.
Well it would seem a small group of Albertans solved the problem in 5 minutes. The OPP, QPP, RCMP and Prime Minister Snow Board Instructor should take note.
I prefer 'Knights of the Round Field'.
Thank You.
The modern police aren't even trying to clear the tracks. And railroad employees aren't allowed to either. We just shut down.
A small blockade sprung up on the west side of Edmonton early yesterday morning, shutting down the CN mainline for most of the day. CN went to court and got an injunction by the afternoon, but a group of counter-protesters got to the blockade first:
https://edmontonjournal.com/news/local-news/protesters-block-cn-rail-line-in-west-edmonton
54light15I've just heard on the news that the RCMP has left their land in BC so maybe something will happen.
Never too old to have a happy childhood!
I've just heard on the news that the RCMP has left their land in BC so maybe something will happen.
Related note: Don't see Indiana restricting all fuel trucks to 10MPH or stopping them entirely.
cv_acr Euclid So how can you be sure the conflict will simply end with a meeting with the hereditary chiefs? I don't think anyone has suggested that meeting with them will magically make everything sunshine and roses, but part of the root of the current crisis was ignoring them, so it's a first step to opening "peace talks" for lack of a better description. There are a LOT of complicated factors involved.
Euclid So how can you be sure the conflict will simply end with a meeting with the hereditary chiefs?
So how can you be sure the conflict will simply end with a meeting with the hereditary chiefs?
I don't think anyone has suggested that meeting with them will magically make everything sunshine and roses, but part of the root of the current crisis was ignoring them, so it's a first step to opening "peace talks" for lack of a better description.
There are a LOT of complicated factors involved.
And the First Nations are divided amongst themselves as well. Some are obviously for the blockades while others are completely against them. I expect the blockades will come down soon as the Canadian economy falters and the layoff notices go out.. but the underlying issues with the indigenous will go on for a long time to come.. let's not forget that today's leaders and elders of the First Nations were among those who as children were forcibly removed from their families and sent to residential schools where many if not most were raped and brutalized, all in the name of assimilation. Likely they're not too interested in fair outcomes for Canada, and who can blame them. Making things right with the First Nations will take many decades..
UlrichThe whole conflict won't end with the meeting of the hereditary chiefs; however, a meeting along with having the RCMP pull back out of the conflict zone in BC will be enough to end the blockades. I say that because the indigenous leaders themselves have stated that. Once the blockades are gone both sides can then resume negotiations and go from there.
Well, then I agree that if the hereditary chiefs have agreed to end the blockades if the RCMP is pulled out of the conflict zone, and a meeting is held with the heredetary chiefs, that sounds like the clear way to go.
Chris van der Heide
My Algoma Central Railway Modeling Blog
The whole conflict won't end with the meeting of the hereditary chiefs; however, a meeting along with having the RCMP pull back out of the conflict zone in BC will be enough to end the blockades. I say that because the indigenous leaders themselves have stated that. Once the blockades are gone both sides can then resume negotiations and go from there.
About the hereditary chiefs having demands of their own, apparently 8 of the 13 hereditary chiefs are in favor of the Coastal GasLink Pipeline albeit with some alterations to what is currently proposed. Its' not a lost cause by any means.. From what I'm understanding they want more of a say on where the pipeline will run as well as other details about its operation and construction.
Ulrich The indigenous people are saying we non natives started this when we (illegally) sent the RCMP into their territory. As I stated before, the way out is clear (and one of our opposition parties is saying the exact same thing).. get the RCMP out of Wet'suwet" en territory (at least where the conflict is occurring) and meet with the hereditary chiefs. This should have happened over a week ago, and had they done that we wouldn't be in this situation today. Forcibly ending the blockades as some have proposed would do nothing more than to create even bigger blockades and problems down the road... maybe even civil war. I'm certainly no fan of illegal blockades.. however quick and decisive action on the part of our federal government at the outset would have resolved this quickly. By sitting on their hands for over a week the government has done nothing more than heighten the sense of urgency in getting this resolved and that plays into the hands of the blockaders who don't appear to be in any sort of rush at all to go home.
The indigenous people are saying we non natives started this when we (illegally) sent the RCMP into their territory. As I stated before, the way out is clear (and one of our opposition parties is saying the exact same thing).. get the RCMP out of Wet'suwet" en territory (at least where the conflict is occurring) and meet with the hereditary chiefs. This should have happened over a week ago, and had they done that we wouldn't be in this situation today. Forcibly ending the blockades as some have proposed would do nothing more than to create even bigger blockades and problems down the road... maybe even civil war. I'm certainly no fan of illegal blockades.. however quick and decisive action on the part of our federal government at the outset would have resolved this quickly. By sitting on their hands for over a week the government has done nothing more than heighten the sense of urgency in getting this resolved and that plays into the hands of the blockaders who don't appear to be in any sort of rush at all to go home.
BaltACD MidlandMike Elected representatives sounds like democracy, while hereditary chiefs sounds like monarchy. If the tribal members really wanted the old chiefs to run the show, couldn't they have elected them to the position? Some people play politics. Some politics play people. You have to know the playing field and the players.
MidlandMike Elected representatives sounds like democracy, while hereditary chiefs sounds like monarchy. If the tribal members really wanted the old chiefs to run the show, couldn't they have elected them to the position?
Some people play politics. Some politics play people.
You have to know the playing field and the players.
Apparently this playing field allows people to blockade trains and commerce if they don't like how things are going. Where is the playing field of law and order?
tree68 MidlandMike Elected representatives sounds like democracy, while hereditary chiefs sounds like monarchy. If the tribal members really wanted the old chiefs to run the show, couldn't they have elected them to the position? I learned some years ago that organizations have two types of leaders - the nominal (ie, elected) leaders, and the opinion leaders. The way I usually explain the opinion leaders is that they sit in the back of the room. When something comes up for a vote, everyone looks at them to find out how to vote. The problem, if you will, with opinion leaders, is that they don't want the responsibility of running the organization. They do, however, enjoy the power they exert over the organization. Everyone wants to be the opinion leader's friend, because it may have perks. Sometimes the two will butt heads. Sounds like that happened here.
I learned some years ago that organizations have two types of leaders - the nominal (ie, elected) leaders, and the opinion leaders.
The way I usually explain the opinion leaders is that they sit in the back of the room. When something comes up for a vote, everyone looks at them to find out how to vote.
The problem, if you will, with opinion leaders, is that they don't want the responsibility of running the organization. They do, however, enjoy the power they exert over the organization. Everyone wants to be the opinion leader's friend, because it may have perks.
Sometimes the two will butt heads. Sounds like that happened here.
Kingmakers!
They don't have to deal with the flack - just keep the King moving the direction they want.
MidlandMikeElected representatives sounds like democracy, while hereditary chiefs sounds like monarchy. If the tribal members really wanted the old chiefs to run the show, couldn't they have elected them to the position?
Larry Resident Microferroequinologist (at least at my house) Everyone goes home; Safety begins with you My Opinion. Standard Disclaimers Apply. No Expiration Date Come ride the rails with me! There's one thing about humility - the moment you think you've got it, you've lost it...
Ulrich The band councils and their elected representatives is a setup contrived by the white man through the Indian Act of 1876. In the past indigenous groups have claimed that these band councils are not really part of how they govern themselves and that they were in fact imposed upon them by colonial governments. Thus, to a great extent the hereditary chiefs still hold alot of governing power and can't really be ignored. That's really what's at issue here. The "real powers" in the indigenous community were not consulted and did not okay the gas pipeline as it is currently proposed.
The band councils and their elected representatives is a setup contrived by the white man through the Indian Act of 1876. In the past indigenous groups have claimed that these band councils are not really part of how they govern themselves and that they were in fact imposed upon them by colonial governments. Thus, to a great extent the hereditary chiefs still hold alot of governing power and can't really be ignored. That's really what's at issue here. The "real powers" in the indigenous community were not consulted and did not okay the gas pipeline as it is currently proposed.
Elected representatives sounds like democracy, while hereditary chiefs sounds like monarchy. If the tribal members really wanted the old chiefs to run the show, couldn't they have elected them to the position?
Speaking of the hereditary chiefs - an article about the blocking of the Thousand Islands Bridge in this morning's paper suggested that the hereditary chiefs are the reason for this whole mess. The duly chosen chiefs had agreed to the plan - the HC don't like it and fomented this whole mess.
Another piece I saw indicated that the currently selected route follows existing infrastructure. An alternative plan by the HC actually took it through some more sacred lands.
I would take it that RCMP is there to allow construction on the agreed-upon route.
My perceptions could be wrong.
The way out of this is to remove the irritant that has culminated in the blockades.. namely the uninvited presence of the RCMP on indigenous lands. Take the RCMP out.. bring the Hereditary chiefs to the table and give the blockaders 24 hours to remove their blockades. Bingo.. problem solved. Somebody has to make the first move.. may as well be the government.
Convicted OneIf 1 million "soreheads" following the next election responded similarly, that would be 1 million more mouths to feed by the jails. Not a small expense.
Precisely the mechanism that blew up the real-estate market in 2008, as low-income people with troublesomely gamed mortgages were exhorted from their pulpits to default 'en masse' -- because the banks couldn't and wouldn't let all those houses go into default; they'd settle for pennies on the dollar.
Didn't work out that way then, and very likely won't work out for many potential protester cohorts after November...
With a likely to be contentious election later this year, I wonder if the dearth of media coverage in the US anticipates possible copycat actions?
If 1 million "soreheads" following the next election responded similarly, that would be 1 million more mouths to feed by the jails. Not a small expense.
Not to mention the crushing blow that would deal to all the nail salons and tattoo parlors as incarcerated workers failed to report for work.
Who'd a thunk it? An indian uprising in the year 2020.
Maybe we need to remount the cavalry on horses.
(OK, if you prefer, they're not "Indians". They're Native Americans, First Nation People, whatever.)
BaltACDThe insurers only have a nodding relationship to the reality of weather - of course all it takes is a cold snap and everything gets solid.
Environmentalists are now campaigning to delay the shipping season for several weeks due to the level of the lakes and river.
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