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MP pans Enbridge pipeline, offers online petition

by Alex Atamanenko MP on 28 Jun 2012
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MP pans Enbridge pipeline, offers online petition

Alex Atamanenko, MP for BC Southern Interior, paid a visit to the Pacific Northwest to learn firsthand about the proposed Enbridge pipeline project.

He, along with Federal NDP Environment critic Megan Leslie and BC MPs Fin Donnelly and Randall Garrison were hosted by their colleague, Nathan Cullen, MP for Skeena Bulkley Valley.  The group met with elected officials from Terrace, Kitimat and Kitamaat Village.  They also attend the Joint Review Panel (JRP) hearings and a public meeting in Terrace with over 120 concerned citizens in attendance.

“What we heard was an overwhelming NO to the Enbridge pipeline,” said Atamanenko.  “Those testifying before the JRP were emotional and passionate in their statements.  They were grandmothers, teenagers, mothers and fathers, not 'radicals' as portrayed by the Conservative government."

According to Atamanenko, witness after witness stated that a pipeline pushed through their pristine wilderness and supertankers in their waters would pose a very real risk of oil spills and permanent destruction of their way of life.

“We also had an opportunity to take a boat trip to see firsthand where the tanker port would be.  This is truly a magnificent area.  One spill of raw bitumen from a supertanker would shut down the tourism and fishing economy putting thousands out of work.  This cannot be allow to happen,"concluded Atamanenko.

The recently passed Omnibus Bill C-38 basically guts the environmental assessment process for big energy projects such as the Enbridge pipeline.  There is concern that even if the JRP recommends against the project that the Conservatives will attempt to push it through by way of a cabinet decision.

The 1,177km pipeline would move some 525,000 barrels of raw bitumen daily from the oil sand to a new Kitimat Marine Terminal for shipping to the US and Asia by supertanker.  Citizens in the Pacific Northwest as well as in other parts of BC and Canada are mobilizing to stop this project.

To sign the petition, please visit:  www.radicals4ourcoast.ca

Comments

False Economy

by Mountain Mitch on 04 Jul 2012 at about 16:40.

Are you going to invest in this new company Phil? Or do you think 'the government' (us) should bankroll such a speculative investment. If the answer is you wouldn't risk your money and besides there are no companies willing to take such a risk you have your answer. There is no economic justification for building a refinery. Government involvement to artificially 'manufacture' such a justification will only magnify the problem.

There is nothing morally or economically wrong with sending a raw product out and buying back a finished product. All depends on markets and demand and doing what you''re good at.

Alternatives

by Mountain Mitch on 29 Jun 2012 at about 10:28.

So do we want to continue to rely on the US as our only market for oil? Or do we ship it all out of the Great Lakes to Europe? The oil sands are going to be developed - now figure out what is the best approach to dealing with the commodity.

I would like to hear our MP suggest a better way of getting our oil to the Asian market and not simply echo the 'emotional and passionate' views of some of the opponents.

I think everyone in the Kootenays knows someone who is working in the oilsands and bringing the money back here. If there are better safeguards that can be put in place, lets hear about them and not simply advocate shutting down the west as the 'new' NDP seems to be intent on.

Add Value Here

by Phil F on 29 Jun 2012 at about 10:44.

If the oil companies are blocked from exporting raw crude, they won't suddenly stop extracting it.  They may put some expansion projects on hold which is good because the oilsands are creating such a labor shortage for certain trades that it is affecting other industries, and forcing  companies to hire foreigners - which in turn means even more oil money leaves the country.  If we extract the oil slower, it only means more money for Canada and Canadians because the global price of oil is only going to keep increasing.

Reducing raw exports will also force oil companies to consider investing in refineries here in Canada.  Which compared to pipelines means more long term jobs, rather than short-term jobs while the pipeline gets built.  It also will reduce Canada's dependence on foreign refined products.  It really troubles me that we are a net oil exporter, yet we have to import finished products.  We even import refined products to add to the bitumen so it can be liquid enough to send through pipelines.

Let's extract our resources to maximize benefits to Canadians, rather than maximize corporate profits of international companies over the short term.