The people of Southern Alberta’s Piikani Nation are furious with the NDP after two of their MLAs ignored their request and entered their land to join a weekend protest against a proposed coal mine..“The Piikani Ncuion Chief and Council were appalled to observe the conduct of MLA Shannon Phillips· West, Lethbridge MLA, and the MLA Marlin Schmidt, of Edmonton Gold Bar MLA, when they attended the protest rally against the Grassy Mountain and other mining initiatives in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains,” said a statement from Chief Stanley Grier..“This gathering was in direct contravention of the Piikani Nation Chief and Council directive for non-Piikani Nation Members onto the Piikani Nation. This directive was implemented due to our decision to mitigate and minimize the COVID-19 pandemic on the Piikani Nation. .“The gathering was captured on news cameras wherein both MLA’s were seen amongst a small group of our Piikani Nation Members and other non-Piikani Nation persons who were not practicing proper social distancing. Their conduct was in direct contravention of former Premier Rachel Notley’s comments relative to large gatherings, vis-a-vis the Calgary Stampede, and lifting COVlD-19 restrictions throughout the province of Alberta..“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Piikani Nation has taken stringent measures in full compliance of the government of Alberta’s COVID-19 measures, to protect the Piikani Nation from the COVID -19 pandemic.”.In a tweet, Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson blasted the pair for going on Piikani lands..“Disappointed to see NDP MLAs Phillips and Schmidt violating Covid-19 protocols on Piikani Nation. I stand with the strong condemnation of these actions, as stated here by Chief Grier and Council,” he wrote..In a series of tweets, Phillips denied any wrongdoing..On Thursday, a review panel for the Alberta Energy Regulator denied the provincial application for the Grassy Mountain coal project in the coal-rich Crowsnest Pass..“The panel’s decision reflects the AER’s commitment to making evidence-based and risk-informed decisions in the public interest,” said Laurie Pushor, president and CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator, in a release.. Energy Minister Sonya Savage and Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon said they respected the panel’s recommendation..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
The people of Southern Alberta’s Piikani Nation are furious with the NDP after two of their MLAs ignored their request and entered their land to join a weekend protest against a proposed coal mine..“The Piikani Ncuion Chief and Council were appalled to observe the conduct of MLA Shannon Phillips· West, Lethbridge MLA, and the MLA Marlin Schmidt, of Edmonton Gold Bar MLA, when they attended the protest rally against the Grassy Mountain and other mining initiatives in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains,” said a statement from Chief Stanley Grier..“This gathering was in direct contravention of the Piikani Nation Chief and Council directive for non-Piikani Nation Members onto the Piikani Nation. This directive was implemented due to our decision to mitigate and minimize the COVID-19 pandemic on the Piikani Nation. .“The gathering was captured on news cameras wherein both MLA’s were seen amongst a small group of our Piikani Nation Members and other non-Piikani Nation persons who were not practicing proper social distancing. Their conduct was in direct contravention of former Premier Rachel Notley’s comments relative to large gatherings, vis-a-vis the Calgary Stampede, and lifting COVlD-19 restrictions throughout the province of Alberta..“During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Piikani Nation has taken stringent measures in full compliance of the government of Alberta’s COVID-19 measures, to protect the Piikani Nation from the COVID -19 pandemic.”.In a tweet, Minister of Indigenous Relations Rick Wilson blasted the pair for going on Piikani lands..“Disappointed to see NDP MLAs Phillips and Schmidt violating Covid-19 protocols on Piikani Nation. I stand with the strong condemnation of these actions, as stated here by Chief Grier and Council,” he wrote..In a series of tweets, Phillips denied any wrongdoing..On Thursday, a review panel for the Alberta Energy Regulator denied the provincial application for the Grassy Mountain coal project in the coal-rich Crowsnest Pass..“The panel’s decision reflects the AER’s commitment to making evidence-based and risk-informed decisions in the public interest,” said Laurie Pushor, president and CEO of the Alberta Energy Regulator, in a release.. Energy Minister Sonya Savage and Environment and Parks Minister Jason Nixon said they respected the panel’s recommendation..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.,dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com,.Twitter.com/nobby7694
