British Columbia is holding the entire country hostage

By Letter to the Editor on May 25, 2018.

Despite the court decisions in British Columbia, and the direction and support by the federal government, on the Kinder Morgan pipeline, it appears that things are heating up rather than cooling down. Much of this conflict is bizarre:

– Not only was this project approved by the federal government, but it had actually been approved by the B.C. government (though by the previous B.C. provincial government before their last election).

– Surveys have shown that the support of the project has increased. Across Canada, 60 per cent are in favour, 15 per cent are somewhat in favour.

– Within B.C., although most in Vancouver are against the project, overall 55 per cent in the province are in favour.

– Indigenous people/First Nations are cited as opposed to the project. However 70 per cent are in favour (largely those with the pipeline going through their lands, those that will benefit from the jobs and royalties). Only 30 per cent are against (largely those that will not have the pipeline and hence not have the benefits).

– Environmentalists are opposed to the transportation of oil by tankers at the B.C. coast. However, every year 6 million tons of oil from Canada, and 37 million tons from the United States, are exported from Vancouver’s port.

– To sell oil to the U.S., we have to make it worth their while. For every barrel of oil at $70, we take a loss of about $26, amounting to about $15 billion lost revenues.

– Because the transportation of oil in this country ties up the railway system, grain farmers, who cannot ship their produce to markets, lose about $4 billion a year.

With so many in favour of the pipeline, and so much economics, jobs and prosperity at stake, why has everything been stalled?

Briefly, there was an 2017 election in B.C. Christie Clark’s Liberals lost by one seat. John Horgan’s NDP made a coalition with the Green Party (which had three seats) to rule the province.

So, the entire country has been held hostage by a provincial party with only three seats.

Such is our democratic system.

As one American youth, that opposed President Trump’s election, explained to the press: “You don’t understand democracy. Democracy is not about doing what the majority wishes. Democracy is about using the system to get what you want.”

John Cherwonogrodzky

Medicine Hat

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