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Wednesday, January 9, 2019 | Your community newspaper since 1916

Minister under fire for visit to blockade Citizen news service B.C.’s forests and natural resource minister Doug Donaldson is facing scrutiny and a call to resign after visiting a pipeline blockade this past weekend. Members of the Gidimt’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation had set up a camp and a checkpoint southwest of Houston, blocking a forest service road and Coastal GasLink from accessing its pipeline right-ofway in its territory. RCMP began clearing the blockade and arrested 14 people on Monday as it enforced a B.C. Supreme Court injunction granting Coastal GasLink access to the area. But Donaldson met with Gidimt’en hereditary leaders at the camp on Sunday before police moved in “to support and recognize that the hereditary chiefs have a responsibility for stewardship of the yintah (land),” the CBC reported.

CITIZEN PHOTO BY BRENT BRAATEN

Supporters of the Unist’ot’en camp braved -24 C weather outside the Prince George Law Courts on Tuesday to show solidarity in their fight against a Coastal GasLink liquid natural gas pipeline.

‘Welcome to battle ground British Columbia’ Arrests near Houston spark nationwide protests, marches Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs told a crowd at Victory Square in Vancouver that it would be a watershed year for Indigenous people in the fight against pipelines crossing their lands.

Terri THEODORE Citizen news service

DONALDSON Donaldson arrived at the camp with his wife and donated a box of goods, according to the CBC. He declined to speak to reporters at the scene, but released a statement late Monday. “As MLA for Stikine, it is my responsibility to listen to the views of the people I represent,” Donaldson said. “I visited the checkpoint on the invitation of my constituents and hereditary chiefs to hear their concerns and observe their protocols.” The protest camp is located in the Nechako Lakes riding, represented by BC Liberal MLA John Rustad. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said the government has broken the law and taken the side of protestors with Donaldson’s visit. “It’s time for Doug Donaldson to resign,” Wilkinson said in a statement. “It’s time for John Horgan to stand up and make clear his Minister of Forests has made a huge mistake.” Construction on the $6.2-billion, 670-kilometre Coastal GasLink pipeline connecting natural gas producers in Northeast B.C. with the LNG Canada export plant in Kitimat is scheduled to begin this month. Coastal GasLink, a subsidiary of TransCanada, obtained an injunction in December that ordered the removal of obstructions in the area as preliminary work gets underway on the pipeline. TransCanada says it has signed agreements with all First Nations along the route but demonstrators argue Wet’suwet’en house chiefs, who are hereditary rather than elected, have not given consent for work through their territories. “This visit was an acknowledgement of their authority as confirmed in the historic Delgamuukw-Gisdaywa decision,” Donaldson said. — see RUSTAD, page 3

Today’s Weather Hi -9° Low -11°

he arrest of 14 people at an Indigenous blockade in a remote area of northern British Columbia became a flash point Tuesday that sparked protests across the country. Protesters delayed Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s speech in Ottawa, stopped traffic in Vancouver and Victoria and prompted a counter protest in front of the headquarters of the company building the pipeline at the centre of the dispute. RCMP made the arrests Monday at a blockade southwest of Houston, where some members of the Gidimt’en clan of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation had set up a camp to control access to a pipeline project across their territory. Police were enforcing a B.C. Supreme Court injunction granted to TransCanada Corp. subsidiary Coastal GasLink. It ordered the removal of obstructions in Wet’suwet’en territory as

work gets underway on a $6.2-billion pipeline carrying natural gas from the Dawson Creek area to Kitimat. Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs told a crowd at Victory Square in Vancouver that it would be a watershed year for Indigenous people in the fight against pipelines crossing their lands. “We’re starting off 2019 with a bang,” he said to cheers and applause. “I want to say to Prime Minister Trudeau: Welcome to battle ground British Columbia.” About 60 people attended the rally in support of the First Nation outside the headquarters of TransCanada Corp. in downtown

Calgary. They were greeted by about the same number of pipeline supporters who were encouraged to come out by Canada Action, a Calgary-based lobby group. Chants of “Build that Pipe” drowned out the blockade supporters initially but the antipipeline group found its voice and was soon matching the volume with their own chant of “Consent. Sovereignty!” There were no physical confrontations but angry words and hand gestures flew back and forth as at least a dozen Calgary police officers used their bodies and bicycles to separate the groups. — see LEGAL ACTION, page 2

Three buildings added to city’s heritage registry Mark NIELSEN Citizen staff mnielsen@pgcitizen.ca The city’s registry of heritage buildings and homes has grown by three. City council approved the additions of the Professional Building at 1705 Third Ave., the Hilliard Clare Masonic Temple at 480 Vancouver St. and the Howieson residence at 2688 Inlander St. during a regular meeting on Monday night. According to a statement of significance, the Professional Building, located at the corner of Third Avenue and Prince Rupert Street, was constructed in 1953 by brothers John and Joe Schlitt who were also the proprietors of sawmill operations in the Prince George area. It was the first building in the city that catered exclusively to professionals and has maintained that type of tenancy to present day. It is also known for a design that was a “notch above the vernacular of the day” as exemplified by the formal entrance and the high quality finishes inside, notably the terrazzo finishes on the stairs leading to the lower level and on the exit. The Hilliard Clare Masonic Hall was built in 1955 at the southeast corner of Vancouver Street and Fourth Avenue. The building’s architects were among the many strong proponents of the Modern perspective, and the structure exhibits tenets straight out of the School of Architecture at University of British Columbia in the 1950s. The Hall is noted for a “functional detailing of building parts and a sense of repose in a three-dimensional expression.” Features include a continuous window band on the main floor of the Vancouver Street and Fourth Avenue, which have also been repeated in the reception room on the second floor and

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Howieson Residence is located in the original South Fort George settlement overlooking the Fraser River. The house is one of only three or four remaining that can be attributed to pre-First World War construction. provides good natural lighting. The private area for Masonic functions on the second floor is comprised of solid exterior walls with small box windows for nominal daylight, providing subdued light in the room. Formerly known as the Prince George Masonic Hall, it was renamed in 2018 in honour of Hilliard Clare. Along with achieving the position of Worshipful Master of the Masonic Hall, Clare has also served as a city alderman. Built by its namesake William Howieson at the south end of Inlander in the original South Fort George settlement, the Howieson house overlooks the Fraser River. It was constructed in 1912 at a time when sternwheelers plied the

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Fraser and docked at the location. Howieson was a cabinet maker and finish carpenter who worked on numerous commercial and residential projects around the city and his finishing work is identical to that seen in other buildings of heritage value in Prince George. The home’s heritage value is further advanced with adherence to the original wood detailing in later additions. That’s particularly noticeable in the window millwork. And some of the hardware of heritage value, such as door latch sets and window fastenings incorporated at the time of construction, still exist and retain their function.

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