As an expat Albertan who retired to B.C. four years ago the present pipeline debacle has me in a quandary. Like many others I was attracted by the climate, beauty and natural setting offered here.
However I see that the Port of Vancouver is the largest exporter of coal in North America with an annual tally over 35 million tons. I read that logging takes over 190,000 acres annually. I observe that almost 100 provincial hydro-dams flood an untold area of land. I shudder that more than 200 cruise ships will disgorge 800,000 tourists annually from ships that have mileage of less than a metre per litre. I shake my head when I find Victoria’s third world mentality allows over 80 million litres of raw sewage to be dumped into the ocean daily.
Realizing that these activities encompass thousands of jobs and bring in billions to the economy I am nonetheless aghast that only limited efforts are being made to remedy these problems. Instead, I hear shrill cries from activists and politicians alike about how their neighbour will never cross their ‘pristine province’ with their dirty product… and replies from that neighbour about ‘turning off the gas will fix you.’
A cursory glance readily reveals the complexity of economics and the environmental cost of the same. It points to the need for co-operation and and negotiation rather than foot-stomping and provincial trade wars. It seems emotional simplicity has run amuck and hypocrisy has followed in it’s wake.
I suggest that all parties involved grow up and get down to the business at hand.
Ryan Lengsfeld,
Nelson