TERRACE– A New Democrat MLA touring Northern B.C. to discuss the risks of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline is hearing frustration and mounting concern in the wake of a federal report that suggests that the risks of transporting diluted bitumen could be worse than previously thought, say the New Democrats.
“I am meeting with mayors, councils, environmental groups and other community leaders, and I am hearing one message loud and clear: people feel abandoned by the B.C. Liberal government,” said New Democrat environment critic Spencer Chandra Herbert from Terrace, where he stopped on the first day of the tour before continuing to Hazelton and Smithers.
Chandra Herbert said people he has met with have expressed their continued opposition to the project, and their incredulity about the Joint Review Panel’s approval, particularly after confirmation yesterday from federal government scientists that diluted bitumen sinks in saltwater when it attaches to sediment and is battered by waves. This would make clean up from a spill even more difficult than previously thought and worsen environmental damage.
“There is no longer any doubt that the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline poses an unacceptable risk to northwest communities and the environment,” said Chandra Herbert.
“This report provides even more comprehensive evidence as to why Premier Clark and the B.C. Liberal government should unequivocally oppose the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project.”
The B.C. Liberal government has acknowledged that the project poses a significant risk, but it did not take into account the troubling findings of this report, noted New Democrat MLA for Skeena Robin Austin, who joined Chandra Herbert for meetings in Terrace.
“Even before this report, the B.C. government’s own assessment found that a spill on the north coast could result in as little as 3 per cent recovery,” said Austin.
“Salmon require clean water and abundant food to thrive. Even a small spill could devastate northwest salmon and the cultures, jobs and communities that depend on them.”
Chandra Herbert added that despite having contradictory evidence from their work on the Kalamazoo River spill, Enbridge representatives still told the National Energy Board that diluted bitumen doesn’t sink.
“It’s inconceivable that Enbridge didn’t know full well that bitumen sinks after spending years scraping the bottom of the still devastated Kalamazoo,” said Chandra Herbert. “We’ll know the fix is in for this pipeline if Premier Clark and the B.C. Liberal government don’t use this new evidence to say no to Enbridge once and for all.”