First victim is truth in pipeline wars

Re: “Pipeline won’t keep gasoline prices down,” comment, March 27. Thanks to Robyn Allan for shedding much-needed light on the pipeline wars.

So B.C. exports more gasoline than it imports and any shortage is manufactured to boost profits. The twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline will not add a single drop of oil to B.C.’s supply.

The new pipeline is designed to get diluted bitumen to Asian markets. This was obvious when former prime minister Stephen Harper allowed China to purchase vast parts of the oilpatch. How else would that unrefined dilbit get to China? Kinder Morgan will be allowed to more than double the toll rate on the existing pipeline to pay for the new one carrying China’s dilbit. We will pay for this at the pumps.

Allan points out refining and marketing profits are “abnormally excessive.” If her claims are accurate, we indeed have been kept in the dark and fed manure like mushrooms. I have always been amazed that gas prices in Greater Victoria all go up at the same time to be exactly the same to 1/10 of a cent per litre. Surely, gas stations have different delivery times from differing sources.

No wonder there is so much opposition and distrust in these pipeline wars. Our political leaders actively enable this mess and claim the national interest when their motives are questioned. The first victim of war is truth.

Ted Roberts Sooke