Pipeline and energy CONCERNS in BC: bin there dun that

Kitimat

“MY Terms of Reference authorize me to inquire into the

environmental, social and navigational safety aspects of

oil port proposals and the general public concerns about

oil tanker traffic on the west coast of Canada. ..... many ordinary citizens of this province are apprehensive.

So far fears about oil spills on this coast are

based mostly on fictional scenarios,

.... These fears are nonetheless real. Moreover, I

cannot now set these concerns at rest, because I have not

been satisfied thus far that a major oil spill in British

Columbia coastal waters is unlikely or without the potential

for catastrophic consequences.

Because these concerns about a major oil spill cannot be

dismissed, this Inquiry is not merely about the mitigation

of adverse environmental, social, and navigational safety

impacts -- it is about whether an oil port should be

built at all!

A unique aspect of the west coast oil port proposals is

that all the benefits are seen to flow outside the province.

Only the risks remain.

...Certainly, the crude oil which would be imported through Kitimat is not

required for British Columbia. Nor do the proponent

companies include any Canadian needs in their projections.

If the final assessment, after all the experts have been

heard, is that oil spill damage may be catastrophic,

British Columbians will expect other Canadians to respect

their right to say NO!

(iii) Conclusions

If an oil port is established at Kitimat there will

inevitably be oil spills on the adjacent coast of British Columbia.”

The West Coast Oil Ports Inquiry was set up in March 1977 specifically to investigate the Kitimat proposal.

... On 23 February 1978, the Government of Canada determined that there is "no need for a west coast oil port now or in the foreseeable future..

....will we luck out, again

Pipeline and energy CONCERNS in BC