Good morning Mrs. Goldsmith-Jones,
I am outraged beyond words to hear that your government is planning to buy the Kinder Morgan TransMountain pipeline! It goes against everything you campaigned for, and incidentally, everything I supported by voting for you for the first time in the last election. Prime Minister Trudeau assured us he would not be supporting and investing in fossil fuels and foreign companies. He assured us that “government issues permits, populations grant permissions”. He promised that he would allow the project to be rigorously assessed by a proper environmental assessment process, after recognizing that the NEB environmental review was inadequate from the beginning. He made a serious commitment on national and international stages to fight climate change. And now, your government is proposing to BUY the pipeline from a Texan company (who must be laughing uncontrollably), under their own terms and threats, and despite the vigorous opposition of a majority of Canadians. It makes no sense to me.
No one will win from this. It sets a bad precedent and erodes the confidence of citizens towards the government, a government that was elected with a feeling of hope that has quickly eroded away.
All politics aside, how can a government spend tax-payer dollars on a project that even the biggest international investors refuse to support because of its financial, legal, and environmental risks??
How can a government support a project that has not even yet fulfilled half of the (minimal) conditions listed under its environmental certificates (incidentally, issued by the same government)?
I am appalled. I hope you will reconsider this decision. It will take me a lot to trust your government and your party ever again.
And I want you to know I fully and proudly stand behind Premier Horgan and his government, as well as all the local leaders and First Nations who are showing the strength needed to stand up for what is right, defend our Coast, our province and planet, and work towards a better, greener future for me and my family.
Pascale Gibeau
Squamish
