“Enbridge offers billion-dollar olive branch to natives.
Company seeks to win favour with communities along the proposed route of Northern Gateway pipeline with 10-per-cent stake.”
The above noted headline appeared in the GLOBE AND MAIL published February 10, 2011 and written by a Nathan Vanderklippe.
“Olive Branch?...
A symbol of peace, an offering of good will, as in They feuded for years, but finally the Hatfields came over bearing an olive branch. This term is alluded to in the Bible (Genesis 8:11), where the dove comes to Noah after the flood with an olive leaf in its mouth.
Money?...an olive branch? So, what’s new?
Two centuries ago, Judas accepted some silver in exchange for information on the whereabouts of Jesus; a friend of mine accepted financial compensation from a local school board as she threatened to sue the board for wrongful acts. Mahar Arar accepted 12 million dollars from the federal government after alleged abuse by the Syrian government. Recently, in 2008, Prime Minister Harper apologized to all former Aboriginal students who attended the residential schools and offered an olive branch...in other words? MONEY!
Now, Enbridge has extended an olive branch in order to build their pipeline…one billion dollars… a symbol of peace? Seems too, through out time, money does talk, or does it?
“Some first nations say they won’t support the Enbridge pipeline, no matter the financial benefits.”
“au contraire,”
Enbridge says, “We would like to show that there are a lot of first nations that are supportive of this project when we get to the hearings.” “Eight of forty native communities have signed commercial memorandums of understanding with Enbridge, which spell out local construction benefits.”
Enbridge says, “We would like to show that there are a lot of first nations that are supportive of this project when we get to the hearings.” “Eight of forty native communities have signed commercial memorandums of understanding with Enbridge, which spell out local construction benefits.”
Based on experience, the National Energy Board will approve Enbridge’s application to build their pipeline. After all, the “olive branch” is nothing new, it’s a sign of peace...especially when it involves money. Seems, the olive branch will allow gas for cash.
