Editor:
The year 2012 has arrived, and with it comes one of the most important decisions British Columbians will ever have to make. It will affect not only us but our children for generations to come. It is the proposed Gateway oil pipelines and super tankers in B.C.
The project is for two pipelines across the rugged isolated heart of B.C. - one carrying condensate, a highly toxic and volatile petroleum product, to Alberta and the other bringing bitumen mixed with condensate to Kitimat.
Super tankers, two football fields long, will then traverse Douglas Channel, the unpredictable waters of Hecate Strait and then past Haida Gwaii.
The Conservatives and the Alberta government support this project and will do anything to get it approved. British Columbians should be the ones to make the decision on whether to approve this or not, but the Conservatives don't think so. Prime Minister Harper and Joe Oliver, the Natural Resource Minister, are talking about shortening the approval process and limiting who can speak at the hearings.
Supporters say how important this is to Canada's energy security, but they don't say how shipping tankers of bitumen to China does anything for our security. Harper says he is worried about the environmentalists getting money from non-Canadians, but is silent about the millions of dollars China is pouring into the oil lobby.
When you hear someone use the term ethical oil, you know they are reading from the script the oil lobby has developed.
Harper says this is about nation building, but he is really saying if you don't agree to this you are being non-Canadian. I implore you to do some research and educate yourself. Make a decision for the good of your children and future generations of British Columbians.
Paul Keyes
Hopkins Landing
