Anti-oil sabotage must be stopped
Many countries would offer profound thanks to their preferred deities if they were blessed with Canada’s abundant natural resources. Perhaps Canadians should join together in prayer for politicians with the slightest sense of what to do with our riches, and some concern for the national interest to boot.
In the latest example of our continuing national self- sabotage, the minority British Columbia government has said it will consider whether to ban expanded exports of raw bitumen from the B.C. coast. The province’s NDP government says the proposed ban is designed to forestall any increase in exports via the Trans Mountain pipeline until it is confident that its coasts are perfectly safe from a spill of Alberta oil, which the province uses in abundance, but which the NDP government and its Green party coalition allies consider to be vile.
This is such a transparent con that it should offend all intelligent people. The anti- oil ideologues that now control the provincial NDP and Green parties will never be satisfied that there are sufficient safeguards in place. The strategy is clearly obstructionist, i ntended to forestall, likely indefinitely, Kinder Morgan’s plan to expand the capacity of its pipeline ( including new construction of sections in some areas) to the B. C. coast. This is a slap in the face of all Canadians who support our energy sector, made worse by the insulting fiction that it’s anything other than a permanent roadblock gussied up as a procedural delay.
With the Keystone XL pipeline to the U.S. Gulf Coast still in limbo, having suffered endless delays and expenses orchestrated through similar tactics by U.S. anti-oil activists and politicians, and both the Northern Gateway and Energy East proposals made impossible by politicians in Quebec and Ottawa, Trans Mountain’s plan, which has received federal approval, is the only realistic option to get Alberta’s oil to global markets, where it could receive a fair market price. B.C ., of course, has a right to advance its own interests. But it also has a duty to behave as a responsible member of the federation.
Alberta’s oil wealth has long been a massive contributor not just to its own prosperity, but via equalization, to the well-being of millions of other Canadians. Oil is a critical part of the Canadian economy and government revenue, whether the green lobby likes it or not. Further, the pipeline would create jobs and growth for Canada as a whole, including B.C. For the province to continue its obstructionist ploys is appalling, but sadly, no longer surprising.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, himself no friend to the oilpatch, has reiterated his government’s position. “That pipeline is going to get built,” he said in an interview this week with Edmonton radio station CHED. “We will stand by our decision. We will ensure that the Kinder Morgan pipeline gets built.” But he has seemed so far worrying ly unready to confront B.C. and its ongoing intransigence. This is where the federal government has a critical role to play. Mr. Trudeau, we’re waiting.