Unlike an earthquake, TuesdayB次元官网网址檚 federal government B次元官网网址済reen lightB次元官网网址� on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX) was entirely predictable.

But like an earthquake in the ocean, it came with the requisite tsunami, this one a wave of press releases washing across newsroom desks across B.C.

B次元官网网址� READ MORE:

As soon as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the approval, in they came. By the time I left the office Tuesday, I counted 19 press releases from political parties, business groups, Indigenous organizations, Trans Mountain itself and, of course, environmental activists. And thatB次元官网网址檚 just as a B.C. journalist. IB次元官网网址檓 sure IB次元官网网址檓 not on everyoneB次元官网网址檚 mailing list. Others may have seen many, many more.

Depending on the point of view, the unsurprising announcement from a government that owns the pipeline in question, a decision to approve the twinning of the 1,150-kilometre pipeline, tripling the capacity, was B次元官网网址渟tunning hypocrisyB次元官网网址� (Rain Forest Action Network) or B次元官网网址渄isgraceful in a climate emergencyB次元官网网址� (Wilderness Committee or B次元官网网址渁 violent act against young peopleB次元官网网址� (Sierra Club of BC).

From supporters of the pipeline expansion it was tepid support at best, given the small-c conservative politicization of all things Trudeau and/or federally Liberal. If you hate Trudeau, but are pro-pipeline, the response needed to be a half-empty cup.

Well before approval, before 7 a.m., the federal Conservatives put forth leader Andrew ScheerB次元官网网址檚 response. Building a pipeline is a decision he would have clearly also made, but one he had to criticize: B次元官网网址淐abinet Decision on TMX Meaningless Without Construction Date: Scheer.B次元官网网址�

A political B次元官网网址測es, butB次元官网网址� response.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business was the least passive-aggressive in support of the decision: B次元官网网址淲e are pleased to see the federal governmentB次元官网网址檚 final decision today granting approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) Project. After more than seven years of review, itB次元官网网址檚 time to get shovels in the ground.B次元官网网址�

The BC Liberal Caucus naturally used the decision to lambaste the governing NDP: B次元官网网址淏次元官网网址楾odayB次元官网网址檚 decision by the federal government sends a clear message to John Horgan and the NDP: The time for obstruction is over B次元官网网址� their government needs to get out of the way and support this project.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

Of those initial 19 press releases, the majority were Indigenous groups and environmental organizations issuing missives written long ago, knowing Trudeau would say yes to TMX.

From the Sierra Club to Greenpeace to Stand.Earth to the David Suzuki Foundation, the messages were clear. From Greenpeace: B次元官网网址淔or the Trudeau government to approve this pipeline after declaring a climate emergency makes about as much sense as pouring gasoline on a burning fire.B次元官网网址�

As for Indigenous leaders, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is not impressed. Their headline: B次元官网网址淐anada Approves TMX Despite Failing to Achieve Consent: Declaration of Climate Emergency Rings Hollow.B次元官网网址�

Tsleil-Waututh Chief Leah George-Wilson called TrudeauB次元官网网址檚 approval B次元官网网址渄isappointingB次元官网网址� if B次元官网网址渘ot surprisingB次元官网网址� and vows to fight it in court.

Those who hate Trudeau, hate Trudeau no matter what he does, this file proves it. Those who support environmental responsibility are unsurprised by ScheerB次元官网网址檚 derision but are left disappointed by a Prime Minister who declared a climate emergency one day and approved the tripling of a pipeline to get diluted bitumen from Alberta to tidewater the next.

Nuanced positions are increasingly tough to hold in politics, division is the order of the day. You are either with us or you are against us. The environment or the economy. Leaders who try to have cake and eat it look greedy.

Political cartoonist Greg Perry drew an unflattering image of Trudeau in a pickle costume musing how it isnB次元官网网址檛 easy being green. Yes, the PM is in a pickle of his own making. But isnB次元官网网址檛 that the reality of balancing an economy and an environment?

And as usual, the best cartoonists nail down in one image what a press release writer (or columnist) can lay out in 650-or-so words.

B次元官网网址� RELATED:

B次元官网网址� RELATED:

paul.henderson@theprogress.com
Like us on and follow us on .