The well-organized and well-finaced opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline frightens me.
The proposed pipeline is a great opportunity to diversify the local economy with training for high paying, permanent jobs - particularly for the Aboriginal communities.
The fear of a major oil spill should consider that the Trans Mountain Pipeline has been moving oil over the mountains and across rivers to the Vancouver area for 62 years without a major spill that I know of.
Today’s better materials, technology, regulations, supervision, inspection and practices makes a new pipeline even safer.
The fear of a major oil spill into the Pacific ocean should consider the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
We were on a tour one year later to the site and saw no lasting damage.
The local tour guide said, “the environmentalist’s did more damage with their hot water than the oil did.”
The fear of a major oil spill from tanker traffic should consider that tankers are safer now, and that the Exxon Valdez and the BC ferries disasters were “human errors.”
Also consider that Norway, with similar coastlines, ships major oil by tankers and has offshore production platforms.
The misinformation about the “dirty” oil sands should look at the reality of it.
Canada with 0.5 per cent of the world’s population produces 2 percent of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
Oil sands account for only 6.5 per cent of Canada’s GHG emissions.
Since 1990, GHG emissions associated with every barrel of oil sands crude produced have been reduced by 29 per cent.
Canada needs to diversify its oil export markets to Asia, and the Northern Gateway Pipeline is probably the best way to do it.
The opportunities for Aboriginal communities is enormous.
(The Sawridge Inns and Convention Centres - “proud supporters of the Oil and Gas Industry” are an excellent example of working with the industry.)
There were more than 1,700 Aboriginal employees in permanent operations jobs in the oil sands industry in 2010.
The oil sands companies provided $5.5 million to support Aboriginal community programs.
Please go to the N.E.B. hearings and listen and make your own presentations rather than participate in organized protests. Opportunity is knocking!
Arthur Yeske
Calgary, AB/ previously from Fort Fraser and Vanderhoof