ICBA plans ‘Yes Rallies,’ creates petition against ‘Forces of No’

VICTORIA, B.C. — In line with Premier Clark’s ‘Forces of No’ news conference remarks last week, the Independent Contractors and Business Association of BC has created an online petition and is planning ‘Yes Rallies,’ to urge governments to listen to what it believes is a silent majority.

It believes the majority of British Columbians wants at least some of the currently proposed major resource projects to go forward, and President Philip Hochstein says it’s time for us to show people what’s at stake.

The no-side not surprisingly takes a much different position, and Peter McCartney of the Wilderness Committee insists they do have a positive development message — but it’s one in tune with the changing times.

It should also be noted that the Wilderness Committee took, what it labelled in a news release, a cautiously optimistic position when reacting to last week’s initiative by the Trudeau government for climate impact reviews for mega resource projects.

Mr. McCartney claims, “This is an important step forward, but the most significant climate impacts, the ones that occur when fuels are burned, still aren’t being considered.”

He argued further, “A true climate test would leave regulators with no choice, but to reject these projects.”

In general, environmentalists have warned the development of LNG export terminals on the coast will drive up greenhouse-gas emissions by encouraging shale gas production here in the Northeast … but the government and industry argue, LNG development will help drive down global emissions by replacing coal in Asian power grids.