I'm trying to write this and I can't think of what to say. Although I believe no matter how many people protest, no matter how many environmentalists rattle their sabre, no matter how many war dances are performed and no matter how many, yet un-elected politicians shake their fists and shout, "If I'm elected the will be no pipeline across B.C." the Enbridge pipeline will be laid across our province.
I listen to and read all the propaganda that is being piled on top of me by so-called, experts. I read columns by people who have the title of doctor, but no indication if they are proctologists, doctors of English or veterinarians and I'm none the wiser. I personally think it's a bad idea.
So who are we actually dealing with? We are dealing with a federal government that has a massive deficit and could use the influx of cash into its pockets and are under pressure from foreign countries and companies who have been buying our country's natural resources.
Then there is our neighbour to the east who's leader reacted almost violently when it was suggested that if the pipeline went through our province, we should reap some of the harvest.
I don't like Enbridge's track record when it comes oil spills. They seem to have a ho-hum attitude. I wonder if Enbridge is a shadow company made up of a bunch of unmanned companies that don't want to be identified. Could it be that the country that is reputed to own the tar sands, the country that will be reaping most of the benefits from the oil and has one of the worst human rights and worker safety records and environmental records. Would it be too much of a coincidence if they owned a good part of Enbridge?
I'm not an expert and what I know about pipelines is that they are a means for moving large volumes of liquid over large distances and have, on occasion, been know to leak. When I consider all the pro's and con's and keeping in mind I have a vivid imagination, I don't like the idea of the possibilities of crude oil spills in the mountains and along our shore line, but I fear that what I, or anyone else thinks is of no consequence to the people who will control it or the federal government who will gain the most from it.
Mel McConaghy
Prince George
