The high stakes at play in Robertson’s green vision for Vancouver finally became fully clear in recent weeks, as he put forward a motion requiring pipeline operators and oil tankers operating in Vancouver to carry enough liability insurance to cover the cost of any spill.
The motion appears to be the first step in a Vancouver green blockade against Alberta oil seeking to flow through B.C. en route to lucrative Asian markets.
The motion came after Kinder Morgan put forward a plan to increase the daily capacity of its oil pipeline from Alberta to the Lower Mainland from 300,000 barrels to 850,000.
Kinder Morgan wants to twin its 65-year-old pipeline, which delivers crude oil from Alberta to the Westridge facility in Burnaby, en route to Asia and the U.S.
As a result, the number of tankers in Vancouver harbour could go up five-fold, increasing the risk to the harbours and beaches that are a critical part of the city’s appeal.
NPA Coun. George Affleck was the only one to oppose Robertson’s motion Wednesday, following public input and a council debate.
Robertson argued that Vancouver’s green city “brand” and thousands of diverse jobs connected to the image are at risk, in addition to the risk of environmental disaster from a major oil spill.
“This is a radical proposal to increase oil shipments through our port and imperil our environment and jobs,” Robertson said.
Green party Coun. Adriane Carr said if the Kinder Morgan plan to put one tanker per day through the Second Narrows is approved, “we will have a spill, the question is the size.”
Vision Vancouver Coun. Tong Tang said, “as city councillors we can’t sit here and hide our heads in the sand — in this case the tar sand — and hope everything will be all right.”
“Vancouver won’t receive any economic benefit,” he said, “but we will be burdened with a tremendous, irreversible risk.”
Affleck attacked Robertson for over-riding an established process of consultation with Kinder Morgan, and endangering local, regional and national economic interests.
“What right do we have to make a knee-jerk decision?” he said. “I’m voting no, because there is so much to be heard on this issue before making a rash decision.”
Vision Vancouver Coun. Kerry Jang said while oil companies already have cleanup plans and liability insurance for spills, some “will do everything they can,” to avoid costs of cleanup.
He cited the 2007 spill involving Kinder Morgan, in Burnaby, pointing to ongoing litigation between the company and municipality.
“To say it will be fine and dandy is one thing, but recent experience in the city of Burnaby proved otherwise,” Jang said, to a loud burst of applause in the council audience.
With Robertson’s vision for Vancouver in addition to B.C.’s strong environmental movement on one side — and Alberta’s economic interests and the federal government’s resource strategies on the other, a major political battle is shaping up pitting opposed visions of the world’s economic and environmental future against each other.
Environmental and oil industry lobbies will be in the background, with activists and spin doctors in the fore.
Already, Robertson has been slammed by controversial Alberta columnist Ezra Levant as a “Manchurian Candidate” allegedly doing the bidding of foreign environmental backers.
Original Article
Source: the province
Author: SAM COOPER
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