My thanks to the UNBC professors who so clearly stated their case against the Enbridge pipeline project in response to the recent Citizen editorial.
While pipeline spills have garnered a lot of attention there is also the distinct possibility of oil tanker accidents which leads to questions I have not heard put forward or answered as yet.
Assuming that most tankers are registered in foreign countries, Libya etc., who exactly must assume the financial responsibility for a major oil disaster on the B.C. coast? Is it Enbridge, Sinopec/China, or in the end the B.C. taxpayer? Who exactly will have ownership of these tankers?
The major argument put forth by the Citizen editorial is that B.C. will benefit, while the federal government argues it is all of Canada that will benefit, and yet Robyn Allan, economist and former CEO of ICBC disagrees.
Ms. Allan uses Enbridge's documents to analyze the likely impact on the Canadian economy and concludes, using Enbridge calculations, that higher prices for oil for Canadians will result.
I cannot argue the various economic assertions but why has this particular argument not received more attention in the Citizen?
The consequences to B.C. residents of severe environmental harm speaks for itself and if the result of Enbridge's desire to become a major player in the oil business results in questionable benefits to Canadians then what exactly is goal of the federal government?
Jeannette Paterson
Prince George
