Rebecca Logan, Alaska Support Industry Alliance, tax reform, referendum, Photo by Dave HarbourADN by Lisa Demer.  The group "We Are Alaska" is coming out against the referendum with radio ads, a Facebook page and Twitter feed. It is being funded by the Alaska Support Industry Alliance. The Alliance is a trade organization with some 500 member groups that support the oil industry and employ people such as engineers, drillers and electricians, but also bankers, caterers and educators. The career and technical education department of the Anchorage School District is listed as an Alliance member, for instance.  There are now organized efforts on both sides of the emerging ballot battle.  "It’s to provide the other side of the story," Alliance general manager Rebecca Logan (NGP Photo) said — that many jobs and much government spending in Alaska stems from oil revenue.  (We respect and support both the courage of this organization and its investment climate position.  -dh)

Gitga’at Evict Pipeliners, Canadian Press.  Members of the Gitga’at Nation say they have evicted a Northern Gateway Pipelines crew from their territory on the north coast of British Columbia as it tried to conduct oil spill response surveys.  The small First Nation of Hartley Bay says the crew showed up to carry out work on the project that has not been approved, and that the Gitga’at continue to oppose.  Coun. Marven Robinson said the band received a fax informing them that the crew would be coming to conduct an oil spill response survey. 

Respect is Key to Aboriginal Support for Gateway Pipeline, Globe and Mail

by Brian Lee Crowley.  

Contrary to what regular readers of newspapers might believe, aboriginal communities in Canada are not knee-jerk opponents of development. On the contrary, a careful reading of their recent responses to development proposals gives reason for optimism.  Perhaps the highest-profile example of a major natural resource project facing roadblocks in large part because of aboriginal opposition is the Northern Gateway pipeline to link Alberta’s oil sands to Asian markets through the West Coast. While other players (such as the B.C. government) matter too, without aboriginal support, Northern Gateway (or its equivalent) almost certainly will not succeed. With that support, it has a fighting chance. Can that support be achieved?