The Editor,
The people of B.C., and more specifically Vancouver, seem to think that they can control the economy and welfare of our country.
However, we are but one part of Canada. We must think of the greater good of the entire country. With a provincial finance minister who just recently noted that every penny counts, just days before delivering another NDP tax-and-spend budget. Are the NDP (I know that the Greens could care less) aware of the billions of dollars a year our oil and gas industries generate for our economy?
Everyone is so worried about a leak from the pipelines, while forgetting how much more dangerous the option of rail will be. Maybe we need to sacrifice a relatively small portion of our land to a few pipelines to preserve the rest of our nation?
And yes, the B.C. coast is a precious and fragile habitat in many ways, but the chances of a major spill are very low. How about all of the other ships in our harbours: tankers, merchant ships, as well as the pleasure boats out there already that are causing tons of pollution every day? Shall we stop all shipping to protect our waters? Perhaps it is an idea to consider.
After all, do all those private boat owners out there really need to have a boat just for pleasure?
Corey Bronfen
Port Coquitlam
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NO PIPELINE
The Editor,
During the 2015 election Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised he would not approve the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion until the National Energy Board review process was revamped to be more inclusive and fair. Instead, the prime minister broke his promise and approved this new bitumen pipeline. I oppose the pipeline and ask the government to reverse its approval.
I oppose this new pipeline as it has not received community consent. The British Columbia government opposes the pipeline and is employing legal tools to oppose the expansion in court. The project also faces legal challenges from the city of Burnaby, the city of Vancouver, other municipalities and many First Nations whose territories and reserve lands are directly affected by the development.
I oppose this new pipeline because it is not safe. The new bitumen pipeline will pass through densely populated urban areas. In Burnaby, where the new pipeline terminates, the fire department released a report indicating the Kinder Morgan expansion puts the public and environment at serious risk in the event of a spill. If there was ever an earthquake and a fire started at the tank farm, millions of people would be affected from the toxic plume.
I object to this new pipeline as it brings no substantial economic benefit to British Columbians. None of the oil will be consumed or refined by Canadians. Kinder Morgan projects the expansion will only create 50 permanent full time jobs upon completion and admits most of the promised temporary construction jobs will not go to local workers.
I object to this new pipeline because of the environmental risk. As we have seen elsewhere, tanker spills happen and the damage is irreversible. I frequently go to the Burrard Inlet, where the tankers are coming in to get this dirty bitumen and a spill in the inlet or harbour would ruin this beautiful place. Many people fish there, catch crabs off the local pier and tankers have no business coming in there.
Steven Solomon
CoquitlamÂ
