Yaffe: Clark offers Enbridge a chance to sway public opinion on pipeline
By Barbara Yaffe, Vancouver SunAugust 7, 2012
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Yaffe+Clark+offers+Enbridge+chance+sway+public+opinion+pipeline/7054922/story.html
Christy Clark has done Alberta a huge favour by giving the Northern Gateway
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 Kitimat, 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 mainstays, 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. environmentalists 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 proposed Kinder Morgan TransMountain 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.
bya...@vancouversun.com
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