It is interesting to see the list of (federal) politicians and Enbridge executives who extol the virtues and safety of the Northern Gateway project.

They have everything to gain and very little to lose by this support. If the pipeline results in an environmental disaster, the worst case scenario for the politician is a sideways shuffle to another portfolio, and for the Enbridge executive a golden handshake.

We, the people who live in the watersheds crossed by the pipeline, will experience contaminated water, damaged ecosystems, etc. For us this will be a very personal loss.

The board of directors of Enbridge has refused to accept personal liability for spills and I’m willing to bet that the politicians would also refuse.

They all say that the pipeline is almost 100 per cent safe and that any spill would be detected, contained and cleaned up immediately. If this turns out not to be true, we will suffer. If the proponents are so confident, should they not be willing to accept personal liability?

Laurie Cook

Prince George