Dear editor,
I read with interest the editorial in last Friday’s paper saying that civil disobedience does little to advance the debate about protecting B.C.’s coast from oil spills.
However, given that the China-Canada trade deal will eliminate public input into the Enbridge project, there is no meaningful debate on the issue.
Gus Van Harten, an expert on international trade agreements, has pointed out that the deal gives China the right to full protection and security from public opposition. Discussion isn’t in this picture.
Worse, this trade deal will automatically pass into law on Nov. 1 without debate. Stephen Harper has stopped the democratic processes of our Parliament and has somehow managed to silence his MPs.
As such, Harper has virtually become a dictator. Who will stop him?
I have contacted John Duncan, our MP and Aboriginal Affairs Minister, on numerous occasions and asked him to stand up for our democracy but he has kept silent on the issue, despite overwhelming opposition to the project from First Nations.
Under these circumstances, civil disobedience is our only alternative.
Terry Robinson,
Courtenay