Horgan, Clark post official responses to Fed’s pipeline decisions
In order in which they were published, here are the responses from John Horgan, the Leader of the Opposition, and Christy Clark, Premier of BC.
November 29, 2016
Kinder Morgan project shows Christy Clark failed to protect B.C. coast
The federal approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline project shows that Christy Clark has failed to protect B.C.’s coast, says B.C. New Democrat Leader John Horgan.
“Instead of doing the right thing for B.C., Christy Clark put our coast in the hands of the Harper government,” said Horgan. “Christy Clark accepted the federal government’s secretive and inadequate review as B.C.’s review – despite knowing it would put our coast, and thousands of good B.C. jobs that depend on it, at risk.
“British Columbians gave Christy Clark a chance to protect our coast and she chose to put wealthy donors before the well-being of local communities, First Nations and our coastal environment.”
Putting seven times as many tankers in south coast waters represents a massive risk to B.C.’s economy, a risk that British Columbians don’t want to take, noted Horgan.
“From the get-go Christy Clark was focussed on undermining British Columbia’s ability to defend itself against this risky project that puts our environment and economy at risk,” said Horgan.
“Approving this project flies in the face of both provincial and federal commitments to reconcile with Indigenous British Columbians and First Nations communities.
“It undermines our climate change goals, and threatens our endangered resident orca population.
“Christy Clark and the B.C. Liberals haven’t stepped up to defend our coast. We have and we will.”
November 30, 2016
Premier’s statement on pipeline decisions
Premier Christy Clark issued the following statement on the federal government’s pipeline decisions:
“Yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his decision to reject Northern Gateway and approve the Kinder Morgan Expansion project.
“For four and a half years, British Columbia’s position has been principled, clear, and consistent. Any heavy oil project must meet our five conditions:
- Receive regulatory approvals
- World-leading marine-spill response
- World-leading land-spill response
- Indigenous participation
- A fair share of benefits for British Columbia
“For the past four and a half years, we have said we would measure the project against these five clear principles, and that for the expansion of any heavy oil movement through British Columbia, these conditions are the path to get to yes.
“We set these conditions to ensure the interests of British Columbians would come first, and be protected.
“We are pleased with the progress we have made. Recently, in response to our work and our consistent position, the federal government announced a new Ocean Protection Plan to protect our coast. They are very close to meeting our five conditions, but we still need some details on the plan to be certain our coast is protected, and there is still some work to do to ensure that British Columbians get a fair share of the jobs and benefits from this project.
“I told Prime Minister Trudeau I look forward to him coming to British Columbia to share his thinking behind his decision, to tell British Columbians directly about the values and principles that guided him in coming to this decision. I stressed the importance of him coming to our province to talk about why this is in the national interest.
“I look forward to welcoming him to British Columbia very soon.”
Related
- Kinder Morgan and the Canadian Government close the deal: Canada now officially owns the pipeline
- Premier’s statement on Federal Court of Appeal decision
- Federal government commits to the acquisition of Kinder Morgan’s pipeline in spite of today’s court ruling
- Canadian Taxpayers Federation reacts to Federal Court of Appeal decision on Trans Mountain pipeline expansion approval
- Tsleil-Waututh Nation applauds FCA decision quashing Kinder Morgan pipeline approvals
- Appeal court overturns Trans Mountain approval, making project’s future uncertain
- Federal court of appeal halts Trans Mountain pipeline project
- Elizabeth May sponsors a petition to halt the Trans Mountain expansion
- Premier holds course on pursuing provincial rights through courts
- Federal government to buy Trans Mountain Pipeline in August
- The Federal government’s plan to bail out Kinder Morgan ignores major legal risks
- Slim majority of Canadians, British Columbians now support pipeline project; opposition remains strong
- Opinion: Nationalizing the Trans Mountain pipeline is a terrible idea
- Point/CounterPoint: Two views on the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain expansion project
- Political statements on Kinder Morgan’s decision on the Trans Mountain expansion project
- Green Party leader Elizabeth May arrested at Kinder Morgan protest
- New data mark years of failure to reduce carbon pollution
- B.C. government granted intervener status
- Opposition Leader Rich Coleman’s statement on Trans Mountain Pipeline
- Greens support action to stop Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion
- Government takes action to protect B.C. over Kinder Morgan pipeline and tanker traffic expansion
- Point and counterpoint: Two views on Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Expansion
- Protect Our Coast solstice rally, demonstration planned for Sooke Dec 21
- Horgan, Clark post official responses to Fed’s pipeline decisions
- Canada’s pipeline plan
- Mayor of Sooke stands with other mayors requesting more pipeline consultation
- Ten days left to comment on Kinder Morgan Pipeline
- September 12 Council Meeting Takeaways
- Province reaffirms Trans Mountain pipeline must meet five conditions
- OPINION: Three of four candidates appeared at the Sooke Climate Change Debate
Well that’s interesting to hear that Ms. Clark thinks that the federal government’s Ocean Protection Plan is “very close to meeting our five conditions”.
“World-leading marine spill response”. What does that mean? Currently no one has developed a marine spill response that works to EFFECTIVELY clean up oil spills to the point where the ecosystem is returned to anything resembling a working state. Nothing that even comes close.
Even if there were, no one has yet invented a way to calm the seas in order to allow this mythological marine spill response to actually be launched and delivered to a spill site. Keeping in mind that storms are usually what cause those oil-spilling accidents at sea.
And Indigenous participation? I guess this must mean not listening to First Nations. Again.
The usual hype.