By Judi McLeod ——Bio and Archives--February 14, 2020
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The words of Arlo Guthrie in his epic song ‘The City of New Orleans’ return to haunt us in February 2020: “Good morning America how are you? Don’t you know me I’m your native son”.
”I’m the train they call The City of New Orleans I'll be gone five hundred miles when the day is done” “Riding on the City of New Orleans Illinois Central Monday morning rail”
“All 20 First Nations along the pipeline route have signed benefit-sharing agreements with the pipeline company through their elected band councils. “That includes the multiple elected councils of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation. “But the protesters have aligned themselves with five Wet’suwet’en hereditary chiefs opposed to the pipeline, and not the 13,000 Indigenous British Columbians represented by all the band councils that support it. “It’s an especially inconvenient fact for pipeline protesters who say they are blocking roads, bridges, highways, train tracks and public buildings in solidarity with Indigenous people.
Hereditary Chief Helen Michelle of Skin Tyee Nation, Wet'suwet'en
— Canada Action (@CanadaAction) February 8, 2020
“A lot of the protestors are not even #Wetsuweten. Our people said go ahead to #CoastalGasLink.” #WetsuwetenStrong #LNGCanada pic.twitter.com/U7zyxZBXxk
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“They sure aren’t representing the Indigenous people working on the pipeline. “Of the 1,000 people currently employed by the project, about one-third are estimated to be First Nations. “If the blockaders get their way, they would throw hundreds of Indigenous people out of work. That’s some “solidarity.”The cancellation of all of its services by the Canada’s railway system is having a serious impact on America—with worries for farming, lumber industries, automotive and manufacturing. No one really knows who the protesters really are as they refuse to appear on camera. Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is AWOL in Africa lobbying African leaders for a Canadian seat on the UN Security Council and will be heading to Barbados next week for yet another holiday from Canadian winter.. Here’s a hint on why the Canadian railway boondoggle is happening now: US Vice-President Joe Biden told an audience in Ottawa in December of 2016 that the world needs "genuine leaders" such as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. (BBC, Dec. 9, 2016)
"The world is going to spend a lot of time looking to you, Mr Prime Minister", he told the Canadian leader. "Mr Biden has been highly critical of US President-elect Donald Trump. "Vive le Canada because we need you very, very badly," he told the dinner guests. "He went on to describe the self-doubt that liberal leaders across the world are currently experiencing after several political defeats. "But he praised "genuine leaders" including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying such statesmen and women are in short supply. “Experts say Mr Biden will seek to assure Canadians that the US-Canada relationship will remain strong during President-elect Donald Trump's presidency. “On Friday Mr Biden is meeting with Canada's provincial premiers and indigenous leaders to discuss climate change.” (CFP Emphasis)
"With over 400 trains cancelled during the last week and new protests that emerged at strategic locations on our mainline, we have decided that a progressive shutdown of our Eastern Canadian operations is the responsible approach to take for the safety of our employees and the protestors," J.J. Ruest, the president and CEO of CN, said in a media statement. (CBC) "This situation is regrettable ... these protests are unrelated to CN's activities and beyond our control. Our shutdown will be progressive and methodical to ensure that we are well set up for recovery, which will come when the illegal blockades end completely.”
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