Christy Clark has done Alberta a huge favour by giving the Northern Gate-way project the only second chance it will ever get in the court of B.C. public opinion.
As an Angus Reid online survey of 804 British Columbians reported last week, 51 per cent "are taking a moderate position of support or opposition that could change depending on specific considerations."
B.C.'s premier, by articulating five conditions for provincial support of the pipeline between the oilsands and Kiti-mat, has given the $6-billion project a small but fighting chance.
If her conditions are met, it's possible the 51 per cent who are moderates ultimately could become supporters.
Add to their numbers the seven per cent who, according to the survey, already "completely support" the project and it's conceivable the pipeline and tanker port have a shot at majority backing.
At this point, Enbridge and Alberta should be assiduously working to see that Clark's five conditions are fully met instead of dissing British Columbians and their premier.
Clark's demands are more than reasonable in a province where environmentalism trumps cash, tourism and the fishery are economic main-stays, and aboriginal treaty rights remain unclear.
A preeminent consideration outlined by Clark relates to heavy oil spill prevention and cleanup capacity, which should already have been addressed by Enbridge.
Its record lately, regarding spills in Alberta and the U.S., has been abominable. The company expressed confidence last week it can meet B.C.'s safety demands but talk is cheap.
Another Clark demand relates to B.C.'s share of economic benefits.
Right now, the benefit to Alberta of the pipeline and tanker port is projected by the Calgary-based Canadian Energy Research Institute to be $352 billion by 2035.
B.C.'s benefit: $5 billion - 1/70th of what Alberta nets. No wonder British Columbians aren't interested. B.C. environ-mentalists assert the environment isn't for sale, at any price. In addition, aboriginals reject the notion of "selling our lands out from under us."
By that argument, B.C. would have zero economic activity from resource development.
And let's be clear: B.C. can use the revenue and jobs from Northern Gateway.
June's jobless rate in the North Coast/Nechako region was 12.2 per cent. Youth unemployment in B.C. is 13 per cent. Among aboriginal youth, it's more than 20 per cent.
The provincial government's deficit this past year totalled $2.36 billion, by Auditor-General John Doyle's reckoning.
Health costs are ever-growing. Anyone in B.C. needing orthopedic surgery at the moment faces a waiting time of about 22 weeks for the privilege, according to the Fraser Institute.
On Northern Gateway, the fiscal benefit and spill response issues are the easier considerations to sort out.
Clark's insistence that legal complications concerning aboriginal rights be addressed will be the thorniest challenge. If the Conservative government wants to keep the Northern Gateway proposal alive, it should immediately join hands with B.C. to set up a working group focusing on this one issue.
The truth is, all of B.C.'s demands are sensible, even logical.
By articulating them, Clark has given Enbridge and the province of Alberta a roadmap to follow, one that might lead to a resolution of the existing impasse. They ought to thank her.
Personally, I view the pro-posed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to Burnaby as being far more palatable and salable than Enbridge's option.
Count me among the 24 per cent of those in the Angus Reid survey who oppose Northern Gateway "but could change their minds based on economic or environmental considerations."
So far, however, I am entirely unimpressed by responses to Clark's demands from both Enbridge and Alberta Premier Alison Redford.
Original Article
Source: vancouver sun
Author: Barbara Yaffe
As an Angus Reid online survey of 804 British Columbians reported last week, 51 per cent "are taking a moderate position of support or opposition that could change depending on specific considerations."
B.C.'s premier, by articulating five conditions for provincial support of the pipeline between the oilsands and Kiti-mat, has given the $6-billion project a small but fighting chance.
If her conditions are met, it's possible the 51 per cent who are moderates ultimately could become supporters.
Add to their numbers the seven per cent who, according to the survey, already "completely support" the project and it's conceivable the pipeline and tanker port have a shot at majority backing.
At this point, Enbridge and Alberta should be assiduously working to see that Clark's five conditions are fully met instead of dissing British Columbians and their premier.
Clark's demands are more than reasonable in a province where environmentalism trumps cash, tourism and the fishery are economic main-stays, and aboriginal treaty rights remain unclear.
A preeminent consideration outlined by Clark relates to heavy oil spill prevention and cleanup capacity, which should already have been addressed by Enbridge.
Its record lately, regarding spills in Alberta and the U.S., has been abominable. The company expressed confidence last week it can meet B.C.'s safety demands but talk is cheap.
Another Clark demand relates to B.C.'s share of economic benefits.
Right now, the benefit to Alberta of the pipeline and tanker port is projected by the Calgary-based Canadian Energy Research Institute to be $352 billion by 2035.
B.C.'s benefit: $5 billion - 1/70th of what Alberta nets. No wonder British Columbians aren't interested. B.C. environ-mentalists assert the environment isn't for sale, at any price. In addition, aboriginals reject the notion of "selling our lands out from under us."
By that argument, B.C. would have zero economic activity from resource development.
And let's be clear: B.C. can use the revenue and jobs from Northern Gateway.
June's jobless rate in the North Coast/Nechako region was 12.2 per cent. Youth unemployment in B.C. is 13 per cent. Among aboriginal youth, it's more than 20 per cent.
The provincial government's deficit this past year totalled $2.36 billion, by Auditor-General John Doyle's reckoning.
Health costs are ever-growing. Anyone in B.C. needing orthopedic surgery at the moment faces a waiting time of about 22 weeks for the privilege, according to the Fraser Institute.
On Northern Gateway, the fiscal benefit and spill response issues are the easier considerations to sort out.
Clark's insistence that legal complications concerning aboriginal rights be addressed will be the thorniest challenge. If the Conservative government wants to keep the Northern Gateway proposal alive, it should immediately join hands with B.C. to set up a working group focusing on this one issue.
The truth is, all of B.C.'s demands are sensible, even logical.
By articulating them, Clark has given Enbridge and the province of Alberta a roadmap to follow, one that might lead to a resolution of the existing impasse. They ought to thank her.
Personally, I view the pro-posed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to Burnaby as being far more palatable and salable than Enbridge's option.
Count me among the 24 per cent of those in the Angus Reid survey who oppose Northern Gateway "but could change their minds based on economic or environmental considerations."
So far, however, I am entirely unimpressed by responses to Clark's demands from both Enbridge and Alberta Premier Alison Redford.
Original Article
Source: vancouver sun
Author: Barbara Yaffe
No comments:
Post a Comment