These thoughts have been percolating for the last few days and the op ed in the Telegraph Journal yesterday hit the nail on the head, so I decided to put the thoughts to virtual paper.
I am dumbfounded that the law is not being enforced by law enforcement in our fair province. For 2 weeks now, citizens have been illegally blocking a public highway, and have been illegally holding a private companies assets hostage. SWN is a company that is legally working in this province and has paid all the appropriate fees and complies with all the relevant rules and regulations, but is being victimized by citizen's acting on opposition of the laws of the land. As is there right, SWN has gone to the court system to have an injunction put in place to clear the way for law enforcement to clear the road and allow them access to their equipement. But our law enforcement, the RCMP, is not enforcing the law.
Before we go too far here, let me clarify that I am not saying citizen do not have the right to protest against activities they feel are not right...that is a basic right of a democracy. If these protesters were lining the same road with signs and chants against the development of shale gas, I would have no issue here. I wouldn't agree with their point of view, but they have the right to that opinion, and the right to tell the world their opinion.
And now, the Premier of the province is negotiating with those breaking the law. He has essentially legitimized their illegal actions by negotiating with those perpetrating the unlawful acts. The message he is sending to the public is "if you want to negotiate with the government, block a road and ignore the laws". Not to be dramatic, but this is akin to the negotiating with terrorists. Authorities have long had the policy of not negotiating with those breaking the law, but enforcing the laws, and negotiating with those that bring a valid point to the attention of those in power through legal means.
In my opinion, the proper response to those blocking the highway and holding SWN equipment hostage would have been to offer to meet with them and discuss there concerns once the roadblock is removed and SWN's equipment was released.
Negotiating with the protesters also shows a lack of faith in the government's own position that shale gas development can be done safely and that the proper rules and regulations have been put in place. If you truly believe that is the case, there is nothing to negotiate. Based on the stated position of this government, the protesters opinion that the development of this resource will destroy the environment of the province is wrong. If the point of meeting with the protesters is to educate them, then educate, don't negotiate.
The government has made an assessment and decided this industry can be developed safely; now stand by that decision and support the industries development. If the public thinks you are wrong, then that is what the next election is for, to tell you that. I think if you educate people they will see that you are right; but you have to believe in your position yourself and stand by it, if you want to convince us.
