Juan de Fuca MLA John Horgan set the tone for the Defend Our Coast protest in Langford on Wednesday when he showed up with a platter of cookies.

A group of about 70 people of all ages gathered outside his currently closed office, holding signs, singing songs and speaking out against the proposed Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e linking arms across the province to continue getting the word out to everybody,B次元官网网址� Langford resident Deidre Hill said at the rally. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 no place to have these great big huge tankers. There are going to be accidents. We donB次元官网网址檛 want that at all.B次元官网网址�

The protest comes on the heels of MondayB次元官网网址檚 demonstration at the B.C. legislature where thousands of people organized by Defend Our Coast B次元官网网址� a loose coalition of First Nations, unions, environmental organizations and others B次元官网网址� voiced their opposition to the project.

In Langford, Horgan passed out his cookies and chatted with the crowd, before linking arms with the others. He apologized for the construction going on at his office and thanked the crowd for coming out.

B次元官网网址淚 think itB次元官网网址檚 great, I think itB次元官网网址檚 fantastic,B次元官网网址� Horgan said about the rally. B次元官网网址淢onday was extraordinary at the legislature, and to have people coming out in Langford today is good news.B次元官网网址�

As the NDP energy critic, Horgan said he is against the proposed pipelines and stands in unity with the protestors.

B次元官网网址淭he potential impacts on Haidi Gwaii, on the north coast, are just too dangerous to contemplate,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淭he opportunities in those regions are local community development projects, not massive mega projects driven by Alberta.B次元官网网址�

Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida ChongB次元官网网址檚 constituency office was the site of another protest of the pipeline proposals.

Speaking before the rally, Celine Trojand, a coalition spokesperson, said that protesters will link arms in front of ChongB次元官网网址檚 office to show an B次元官网网址渦nbroken wall of oppositionB次元官网网址� to Enbridge.

B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 the minister for Aboriginal affairs and this is important to (First Nations people),B次元官网网址� Trojand said.

The demonstration at ChongB次元官网网址檚 office in Saanich was one of a series of demonstrations targeting MLA offices across the province.

Organizers want the protest to draw attention to ChongB次元官网网址檚 role and responsibilities regarding aboriginal affairs.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a swing riding (Oak Bay-Gordon Head) that was won by a very narrow margin,B次元官网网址� said Trojand. B次元官网网址�(Chong) has to know that B次元官网网址� the way she handles this issue will make a difference in the next election.B次元官网网址�

Chong says that she and the B.C. Liberal government share the groupB次元官网网址檚 concern.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e saying what weB次元官网网址檙e saying. ItB次元官网网址檚 a matter of risk-benefit and right now thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing but risk.B次元官网网址�

In July, the provincial government outlined its position on the pipeline proposals by listing five points that needed resolution before the projects could proceed, including one that requires that aboriginal and treaty rights be addressed.

B次元官网网址淭here are some 20 B.C. First Nations groups at the (federal joint review panel) hearings. Not one of them support the project. That tells us something,B次元官网网址� said Chong.

B次元官网网址淚f there is no support that develops from First Nations, I would have to go to the premier and say B次元官网网址榳e havenB次元官网网址檛 met that point and canB次元官网网址檛 proceed.B次元官网网址� I would have to oppose the project on those grounds.B次元官网网址�

For Chong to be successful it begins with listening, said Geraldine Thomas-Flurer, the co-ordinator of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Yinka-Dene Alliance. B次元官网网址淲e havenB次元官网网址檛 seen her do that yet. She hasnB次元官网网址檛 even addressed our community yet.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 a sentiment echoed by Keith Henry of the B.C. M茅tis Federation.

B次元官网网址淲e have grave concerns,B次元官网网址� said Henry. B次元官网网址淲e still havenB次元官网网址檛 seen them (the province) clarify what (its) position is on First Nation rights and titles. They say itB次元官网网址檚 an issue, but whatB次元官网网址檚 their position?B次元官网网址�

Both Thomas-Flurer and HenryB次元官网网址檚 organizations took part in last MondayB次元官网网址檚 protest and the demonstration at ChongB次元官网网址檚 office.

B次元官网网址淭hese protests are just the beginning,B次元官网网址� said Henry.

B次元官网网址淚 ask my staff every week if any First Nations peoples are (supporting) this project,B次元官网网址� Chong said. B次元官网网址淎s of now we have none. That means I canB次元官网网址檛 support it.B次元官网网址�