Re. Enbridge and tanker traffic.
OK. The fact is, right now we need oil. How we get it is the issue. Use or buildnew pipelines to existing port facilities? Before Our Christy Clark was elected, she specified five conditions for tanker development. These now seem to have been modified to suit Redford and Harper.
Kicking the teachers and children in the teeth (Christy again) in 2002 is now shown to be illegal and immoral. Can she be trusted with any major issues? This government should join Aboriginals and other enlightened groups to fight Harper tooth and nail on this oil issue. He and his cabinet donot live in B.C. and do not have most beautiful remaining thousand miles of coastline in the world. Pipelines are usually OK and necessary within reason. It is the tanker traffic that people really are frightened of.
There may be one big spill in 30 years, which would be in itself be catastrophic,but what about smallongoing spills and regular exhaust pollution and garbage (like cruise ships) which damage the marine environment irreparably?In addition, 12 tankers per week will chase the whales and large marine mammals away from B.C. forever. At least there will be a glut of salmon. Maybe that's why BC Ferries is cutting the Port Hardy-Bella Coola ferry in anticipation of future developments?Avoid collisions with ferries and keep tourists away from our shame.
If Enbridge managers get permission to ply tankers on the B.C. coast, they will become smug, complacent and ever more lax. There will be no going back as the profits roll in, taxes go down and people can buy even more consumer goods they do not need (and pay even more for housing, especially in Lotus Land). Well-heeled yachtsmen (few ferries... remember?) on the B.C. coastline can marvel at thesleek and shiny, megalithic, double-hulled giant tankers as they drift by, scaring everything within 20 miles.
Build the tankers and beg forgiveness from our grandchildren. In 50 years, we probably will not need oil and fossil fuels, but the damage will have been done if we let big oil have its way. Maybe the new PM Trudeau will have the vision of his father and stop this insanity and greed.
Dr. Peter Austen
Garibaldi Highlands
