LILLEY: Blockades ring hollow amid Indigenous support for pipeline

In July 2008, a meeting of wealthy American philanthropists — combined with Canadian and American environmental groups — laid out a plan for what we are seeing happen now in Canada.

If you think the activists shutting down ports, rail lines and the construction of a clean energy pipeline in Canada is the result of grassroots efforts, then you haven’t been paying attention.

For the past several days, Canada’s busiest shipping container port has been shut down due to protesters angry over a pipeline. Same with the busiest rail line for passenger traffic — plus significant commercial traffic.

All because of a campaign claiming to be grassroots when it is anything but.

Money generated by American billionaires has been used for years to demonize our own oil and gas industry — one of the cleanest in the world — by enlisting the help of green and First Nations activists.