Burns Lake chief Albert Gerow will leave office at the end of the year

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      The  Burns Lake District News has reported that the chief of the Burns Lake band, Albert Gerow, has resigned.

      Gerow, who is in his second term, will leave office on December 31 because he has accepted a job with TransCanada Pipelines Limited.

      The company is trying to win approval for the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry bitumen from Alberta into the United States.

      Gerow, a former RCMP officer, is married to Victoria–Beacon Hill NDP MLA Carole James.

      The Straight reported this week that Gerow has supported Enbridge's application for temporary-use permits to the Ministry of Forests, Lands, and Natural Resource Operations.

      Gerow's letter in support of the permits—which are necessary to advance the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline—was sent less than two weeks after the provincial election.

      He is also one of three plaintiffs involved in a bitter lawsuit against 13 named and unnamed defendants, including band councillor Ronald Charlie.

      Gerow, band councillor Nicholas Daniel George, and former councillor Wesley Sam allege that that the defendants have made numerous defamatory comments about them.

      The defendants have denied the allegations, which have not been proven in court.

      Earlier this year, Gerow's critics occupied the Burns Lake band's office for two weeks.

      The Globe and Mail reported at the time that the protest ended after the RCMP warned demonstrators that if they didn't vacate the premises, they would be charged with assault by trespass.

      Comments

      1 Comments

      abby

      Dec 12, 2013 at 5:25pm

      BC Provincial politics one big party and BC residents will have to pay the tab.