About 80 people linked arms and chanted slogans outside the 152 Street offices of Surrey-White Rock MLA Gordon Hogg at noon Wednesday.
“Defend our coast,” they shouted, and waved signs that opposed a controversial proposal to build an oil pipeline from Alberta through northern B.C. to ship crude to Asian markets.
“Our land is not for sale” one placard read.
“No tankers, no pipelines, no problems,” another said.
It was part of a province-wide protest organized in the wake of a demonstration against the pipeline at the legislature that drew more than 3,000 people.
The 1,100-kilometre Northern Gateway pipeline is proposed by Enbridge Inc.
In South Surrey Wednesday, protest spokesperson Elizabeth Kearns brought a map of the proposed pipeline route to Kitimat and the passage oil tankers would likely use.
“You can see how narrow it is,” Kearns said. “I can’t imagine putting tankers in there. It’s ludicrous.”
Kearns said the turnout here was better than expected.
The low-key protest on 152 Street blocked the sidewalk outside the office for a few minutes, then the demonstrators dispersed.
Hogg wasn't there.His office said the MLA advised the demonstration organizers two weeks ago that he would not be available because of a previous commitment to attend an out-of-town event. He has offered to meet with them on his return.
In all, 67 rallies were to be held at MLAs’ offices across the province, calling for a firm commitment to ban tanker expansion on B.C.’s coast, a policy move organizers said would halt the pipeline plans.
For more photos of the South Surrey protest, click here.