Dear Members and Friends,

The League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties has been fighting against the destruction of our natural and beautiful environment in Northern Wisconsin for years by the Line 5 re-route. Below you will find important information on how to, as private citizens, sign on to the letter composed by our US and Canadian tribal communities telling Canadian Ministers to stop misusing the 1977 transit pipeline treaty.

Introduction:
In December 2022, partners from US Tribal and non-tribal communities on Lake Superior attended the UN COP15, the 15th UN Convention on Biological Diversity. Global Leaders created a new 10-year plan to reverse the loss of life on Earth. In addition, grassroots attendees from the US and Canada cemented a coalition to specifically oppose Enbridge Line 5 which is a foremost threat to the acceleration of climate change and when a spill occurs the waters of the Great Lakes. Two actions have resulted from the alliance.

First, a letter from the US and Canadian Tribal communities has been sent to the UN Human Rights Council requesting the Council to investigate the violation of governmental responsibilities to uphold Treaty Rights and the dire impact of Enbridge Line 5 to those Rights.

Second, they have composed a letter demanding the Canadian Ministers stop misusing the 1977 Transit Pipeline Treaty with the United States. This Treaty basically does not allow either country to stop the flow of fossil fuels. Canada is currently using the 1977 Treaty to stop the US from enforcing environmental protections with a stoppage of flow at the Straits and denial of permits for construction at any point along Line 5. (Superior to Sarnia)

Urgent ACTION!
We urge LWV/ABC members and friends to sign on as private citizens to the letter. This must be completed by the evening of April 22 in order for the letter to be delivered to the Canadian Ministers on April 24, the 70th Anniversary of Enbridge Line 5’s operation. Simply go to:
https://communitiesunitedbywater.org/communities-united-by-water/tell-canadian-ministers-no
Further details are also presented at this link. Note copies being sent to US officials.

ACT NOW: SIGN AND SHARE ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA

On behalf of the Board of Directors,
League of Women Voters of Ashland and Bayfield Counties