MOST B.C. RESIDENTS SEE NEED FOR OIL COMPROMISE

The majority must now speak louder than the pipeline protesters, says John Weston.

I’m a proud British Columbian but would be ashamed to show my face in Calgary today.

Firstly, we are looking like a bunch of selfish navel-gazers, mindless of the fortunes of fellow Canadians. In the case of Albertans, the jobs we threaten relate to people who have for decades borne a disproportionate percentage of Canada’s financial burden. Can’t we find a way to help our countrywomen and countrymen without harming ourselves?

That question leads to the second point, that pipeline opponents appear to reject out of hand even the most stringent environmental protections. Those of us who advocate for B.C.’s splendid environment should be able to find some world-class environmental protection standards in which we can put our faith. Few places in the world have the protections that we have, to guard against petroleum spills, on land or at sea. As I argued in the House of Commons, the environment is the economy; we can stand for both. To mindlessly reject resource development rejects our invaluable assets as Canadians and dismisses a generation of excellent, environment-related technology developed and applied by some of the word’s top experts — Canadian experts.

The third disheartening aspect of the pipeline debate is the debilitating nature of government leaders who make up the rules as they go along. Kinder Morgan has stood by and seen the other two large pipeline projects die — Northern Gateway and Energy East. The company has witnessed the complete paralysis of LNG projects on the West Coast. It has still agreed to 157 difficult conditions and negotiated agreements with 43 Indigenous communities along its route. Remember, this is to develop a pipeline the most of which falls within the company’s existing right-of-way. If a government such as the one in Victoria can reverse such daunting approval processes, what investment in the province is safe? Which foreigner — or British Columbian — would dare to invest in such a mercurial climate? Even a left-leaning prime minister and further left-leaning Alberta premier understand this fundamental truth — add enough uncertainty and investment capital flees.

A fourth disconcerting point is the most ironic. Those who disregard the importance of a robust economy will be the first to demand higher, more expensive environmental controls, social benefits, and health care. Funded by whom?

As ever, a small minority of belligerent protesters seize the lion’s share of media coverage. What can those of us British Columbians do to raise our voices, who welcome investment in our province, who want jobs for ourselves and our kids, who respect the rule of law, and who care about the interests of Albertans and other Canadians as well as our own?

The majority of British Columbians understand that pipelines are safer than trucks or trains in transporting petroleum. The majority of British Columbians are not so hypocritical as to drive their cars to environmental protests. The majority of British Columbians care about the environment. We want the world’s best technology and processes in place to protect our majestic oceans and world-renowned natural beauty. Historically, we’ve had the guts to pursue excellence in this province in every imaginable field. There’s every reason to believe we can develop our resources responsibly and protect our world-renowned environment in a world-class way.

Indigenous leaders’ consultation has been extensive and Kinder Morgan claims it has agreement from 43 Indigenous Communities. The Indian Resource Council and other organizations acknowledge the enormous benefits Indigenous communities will realize if the project gets completed. Pipeline protesters now claim that any First Nation which withholds support should be able to block the project. Such thinking effectively condemns any project to failure in the absence of unanimous consent, an unheard-of approval level in any democracy, totally unworkable in a 21st century economy.

In my experience, most British Columbians share four characteristics — the Four E’s:

we’re proud of our Environment, and keen to protect it;

we stand up for our Economy because it provides us health care, education, and other ingredients of our high quality of life;

we promote the Empowerment of Indigenous people; and

we want an Effective Federation, one where governments work co-operatively for the benefit of all Canadians.

Unfortunately, it’s typically those who oppose an initiative who come out to protest. Those in favour stay home. So maybe it’s time we who believe in the Four E’s raise our voices. As I pondered the possibility of starting a rally in support of responsible resource development, I encountered a fledgling organization that seeks to give voice to people with the characteristics listed above.

Have a look at Resourceworks, not a company nor a political party, but a group that is trying to give voice to counterbalance the naysayers. Any concerned citizen should have a look at its Citizen’s Guide to Tanker Safety and Spill Response on the British Columbia South Coast. Resourceworks has already organized one rally for concerned citizens who support responsible resource development. If you care about the Four E’s, maybe we’ll see each other at the next one.