Dear editor,
I strongly support the B.C. NDP’s stance opposing the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline. Simply put, the health of our planet is being worsened on a daily basis, by the increased burning of fossil fuels.
I spent most of my working career fishing commercially for salmon and halibut along the supernaturally beautiful coast of B.C. The value of tourism is enormous.
The thought that Vancouver’s unique urban wilderness could be sacrificed for the profits of those with shares in the tar sands is unconscionable.
Most people don’t realize that the heavy bitumen from a spill of tar sands “oil” will quickly sink to the ocean floor. There is no rapid response that could recover or mitigate a fraction of the damage to fish and their habitat. This being out of sight is so important to keep in mind.
Only 10 per cent of the 10.8 million US gallons of light oil which spilled from the Exxon Valdez in 1989 was ever recovered.
I wish Premier Horgan strength in our stand-off with both Alberta and the federal government. They will hopefully see greater opportunity with renewable, solar and wind energy, along with a genuine commitment to decreasing greenhouse gases.
Mary Graves
Courtenay