I know I’m an Albertan now and that I should be in favour of projects such as Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline, Enbridge’s Northern Gateway and the Energy East pipeline, and I am.
At least in theory, but not before the proper environmental processes have taken place and proper approval has been granted.
In recent weeks Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken a lot of heat from people like Brian Jean, leader of Alberta’s opposition, oil industry executives, workers in the oil patch and ordinary Albertans, because he hasn’t come out expressly in favour of pipelines or any of the above mentioned projects.
Although if you read in between the lines, I would say the PM supports pipelines and hopes many, if not all, of these projects proceed. Trudeau is on record saying pipelines are safer than rail, pointing to the tragedy in Lac-Megantic and that Canada needs to get its commodities, oil included to market.
All he has said is that whatever the commodity, it should be done in an environmentally sound, sustainable manner and that government shouldn’t be perceived as politicizing the process.
And if you ask me, I believe this is the right tactic. After all, the Conservative Party, under Stephen Harper’s approach, obviously wasn’t working. Ten years and not one pipeline project started.
That being said, in my opinion, there isn’t a lot government can do. Besides waiting for the National Energy Board (NEB) and the various environmental organizations to decide whether the project is safe, the major issue is winning people over. Whether it is the public or other provincial or municipal governments, aboriginal groups and landowners where the pipelines have to pass by.
Yes, people whose livelihoods depend directly or indirectly on these projects should let their elected representatives know how they are being affected by the absence of these pipelines.
But my question is how do the companies themselves get away without the same public pressure from those who want to see the pipelines go ahead?
Both Enbridge and Kinder Morgan’s environmental records are spotty to say the least. Between 1999 and 2008, Enbridge lists 610 spills, which released about 21 million litres of hydrocarbons into the surrounding areas. In 2009, Enbridge also agreed to pay $1.1 million, in an out of court settlement, to the state of Wisconsin for 545 environmental violations. As for Kinder Morgan and Trans Mountain pipeline, since 2002 NEB data shows there have been 11 leaks spilling close to 4,800 barrels of oil from the aging pipeline.
So can you blame the B.C. government and its residents of being wary of the project?
And despite everything, the B.C. government hasn’t completely shut the door, saying five conditions need to be met, one the most important being a detailed plan on how it plans to prevent spills along the route and how it would respond an emergency should occur. So far Kinder Morgan hasn’t it responded.
It is time Alberta residents start to seriously lobby these companies as well, to do their part. Until they do these pipelines will never get built and Albertans, including those in Barrhead, will continue to be adversely effected.
