The Northern Gateway Enbridge Pipeline Review Panel Is invalid as it is missing the most important component, International shipping.
If you went to the bank and asked for a business loan and your business plan completely omitted any information about shipping and transport of your products, the bank would laugh you out of the building yet this is what the Federal government expects from you the public landowner!
Talking about the pipeline is really kind of a moot point. We could talk about the risks involved with the bitumen and the Naptha moving along environmentally sensitive eco-systems and the risks associated with either or both contaminating our valuable aquatic and terrestrial systems. We could try and believe the assurances the Federal government and Enbridge espouse to ensure that they remediate any mess they make, providing they find them. But the catastrophic damages that the Haisla elder's alluded to, which could never be ameliorated with money are not at the table. Why? Well, like a poor business plan, this review panel's is flawed and frankly a farce! Until the Federal government can show us the public landowners that they have resolved the risks to shipping, we are wasting public taxpayers money and time. This is a red herring and circus side show meant to distract us from the fact that while Ottawa and Alberta may not fully comprehend the scope of a tanker spill on the people and livelihood of coastal B.C., I can guarantee you everyone over there had a good taste of it after 1989's Exxon Valdez spill.
I propose a solution to help bridge the gap. When the Review Panel go to the next host town, lets ensure that they eat only seafood from in the vicinity of the Deep Horizon Oil Spill, perhaps some nicely greased shellfish while we enjoy Prince Rupert Salmon.
Diana Gerdenits
Prince George
