It’s been a long time since British Columbia was beset with the kind of issue that divides nations, political parties and even some environmentalists.
And it’s anyone’s guess as to how the Trans Mountain oil pipeline imbroglio will play out.
We have the federal government maintaining the pipeline is in the national interest, the provincial government seeking an answer to the question about its jurisdiction on potentially threatening environmental concerns, U.S.-based Kinder Morgan threatening to pull the plug, Alberta's premier threatening to squeeze oil so we pay more for gas or investing in the project itself if Kinder Morgan takes a walk. Even Burnaby council is putting up barriers while protesters continue to air their concerns.
(Coquitlam has also raised issues with the project on the grounds it will be costly for local taxpayers.)
For this to sort itself out will need patience as well as real progress on environmental protection of B.C. waters, as nobody wants to see a devastating oil spill.
We’ll have to wait to see who will blink first.
