Enbridge needs to fix stuff!--or GO HOME!

Draft letter to Vancouver Observer.

THERE ARE MILLIONS OF MILES OF oil PIPE LINES..AND MORE WILL BE BUILT..So why the big fuss about this proposed Enbridge pipeline? I suppose it’s more about WHO is planning to build the line—Enbridge’ ‘record’ leaves us skeptical—the old Enbridge has earned a reputation which will be difficult to FIX ! Following are some of my suggestions—can Enbridge make these changes—or do we just look for a different organization with a record and culture of operations safety?? I suggest that Enbridge, with a major commitment , might be able to gain public acceptance??Ha Ha you say---I’ve sent the note below to Enbridge and the major media—but guess what—no response. I doubt that Enbridge will be able to change---they can likely bully their way through the hearings process and public resistance –while the politicians remain in hiding—The media ‘love’ the revenue from those,ubiquitous ,annoying Enbridge ads—public opinion may yet cause the politicians to lead ? Again, ha ha ! Without major media support ‘we peasants’ won’t be heard---hopefully the community media,such as yours, will help to bring the government out of hiding and to do their job?

My Comment email follows...

Enbridge,in my opinion, have problems,still;

1. about OPERATIONS SAFETY– lingers from the NTSB report about the Kalamazoo pipeline failure fiasco-

2. IMAGE is hurt about MISLEADING ADS such as the ad which showed a wide and clear path through Douglas channel —the ads seem counter productive and certainly they are becoming ANNOYING.

3. we see little evidence about the BENEFITS for BC public...instead we still see problems.

WHAT TO DO??

About 1.---Enbridge Board of Directors need ‘to have an OPERATIONS SAFETY EPIPHANY’—and show us in detail (new policy and organization)and explain how Enbridge will safely manage pipelines.

About 2. Move OUT OF DOUGLAS Channel to a more open port location .Put your highly skilled people ‘on the road’ to explain at MODERATED presentations and debates how Enbridge can and will do their job ....the public will then judge the quality of your team.

About 3. Let Enbridge and Governments sit down and hammer out a sensible deal .There are 4 PROFITING PARTNERS in this project—the oil producers,the pipe liner, the loading terminal and storage facilities owner and the SHIP owners ! Show us, in detail, the NET BENEFITS for B.C., ASSUMING the ‘profiting partners’ BUILD an OIL SPILL DISASTER FUND to protect BC taxpayers from the clean up cost of any minor or major shipping or pipeline spill !

The public polls show that the public are not buying your proposal, as is!

The polls are a key consideration in all politician’s survival handbook—!

So Enbridge--fix stuff (‘safety’,’image’ and ‘benefits’)now—or go home.

Simple as that!