Unlike an earthquake, Tuesday害羞草研究所檚 federal government 害羞草研究所済reen light害羞草研究所� on the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project (TMX) was entirely predictable.

But like an earthquake in the ocean, it came with the requisite tsunami, this one a wave of press releases washing across newsroom desks across B.C.

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As soon as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the approval, in they came. By the time I left the office Tuesday, I counted 19 press releases from political parties, business groups, Indigenous organizations, Trans Mountain itself and, of course, environmental activists. And that害羞草研究所檚 just as a B.C. journalist. I害羞草研究所檓 sure I害羞草研究所檓 not on everyone害羞草研究所檚 mailing list. Others may have seen many, many more.

Depending on the point of view, the unsurprising announcement from a government that owns the pipeline in question, a decision to approve the twinning of the 1,150-kilometre pipeline, tripling the capacity, was 害羞草研究所渟tunning hypocrisy害羞草研究所� (Rain Forest Action Network) or 害羞草研究所渄isgraceful in a climate emergency害羞草研究所� (Wilderness Committee or 害羞草研究所渁 violent act against young people害羞草研究所� (Sierra Club of BC).

From supporters of the pipeline expansion it was tepid support at best, given the small-c conservative politicization of all things Trudeau and/or federally Liberal. If you hate Trudeau, but are pro-pipeline, the response needed to be a half-empty cup.

Well before approval, before 7 a.m., the federal Conservatives put forth leader Andrew Scheer害羞草研究所檚 response. Building a pipeline is a decision he would have clearly also made, but one he had to criticize: 害羞草研究所淐abinet Decision on TMX Meaningless Without Construction Date: Scheer.害羞草研究所�

A political 害羞草研究所測es, but害羞草研究所� response.

The Canadian Federation of Independent Business was the least passive-aggressive in support of the decision: 害羞草研究所淲e are pleased to see the federal government害羞草研究所檚 final decision today granting approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion (TMX) Project. After more than seven years of review, it害羞草研究所檚 time to get shovels in the ground.害羞草研究所�

The BC Liberal Caucus naturally used the decision to lambaste the governing NDP: 害羞草研究所満π卟菅芯克鶚Today害羞草研究所檚 decision by the federal government sends a clear message to John Horgan and the NDP: The time for obstruction is over 害羞草研究所� their government needs to get out of the way and support this project.害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

Of those initial 19 press releases, the majority were Indigenous groups and environmental organizations issuing missives written long ago, knowing Trudeau would say yes to TMX.

From the Sierra Club to Greenpeace to Stand.Earth to the David Suzuki Foundation, the messages were clear. From Greenpeace: 害羞草研究所淔or the Trudeau government to approve this pipeline after declaring a climate emergency makes about as much sense as pouring gasoline on a burning fire.害羞草研究所�

As for Indigenous leaders, the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs is not impressed. Their headline: 害羞草研究所淐anada Approves TMX Despite Failing to Achieve Consent: Declaration of Climate Emergency Rings Hollow.害羞草研究所�

Tsleil-Waututh Chief Leah George-Wilson called Trudeau害羞草研究所檚 approval 害羞草研究所渄isappointing害羞草研究所� if 害羞草研究所渘ot surprising害羞草研究所� and vows to fight it in court.

Those who hate Trudeau, hate Trudeau no matter what he does, this file proves it. Those who support environmental responsibility are unsurprised by Scheer害羞草研究所檚 derision but are left disappointed by a Prime Minister who declared a climate emergency one day and approved the tripling of a pipeline to get diluted bitumen from Alberta to tidewater the next.

Nuanced positions are increasingly tough to hold in politics, division is the order of the day. You are either with us or you are against us. The environment or the economy. Leaders who try to have cake and eat it look greedy.

Political cartoonist Greg Perry drew an unflattering image of Trudeau in a pickle costume musing how it isn害羞草研究所檛 easy being green. Yes, the PM is in a pickle of his own making. But isn害羞草研究所檛 that the reality of balancing an economy and an environment?

And as usual, the best cartoonists nail down in one image what a press release writer (or columnist) can lay out in 650-or-so words.

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paul.henderson@theprogress.com
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