Tanker ban kills Alberta oil markets

Re Would PM go ‘nuclear’ to build a pipeline?, Hébert, May 16

On May 12, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Bill C-78 to ban oil tankers off B.C.’s north coast.

This bill would eliminate Prince Rupert, the safest location for an oil tanker port on Canada’s west coast, as the terminus for a single, highly efficient, environmentally responsible energy corridor, transporting oil, natural gas, gas liquids and clean hydropower through northern B.C., with local and First Nations support.

Yet Trudeau approved the widely opposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which dramatically increases dilbit (diluted bitumen) tanker numbers through Vancouver’s harbours and the Salish Sea.

However, a B.C. NDP-Green coalition government, together with Lower Mainland municipalities like Vancouver and Burnaby, will seek to kill it, or delay it long enough to effectively kill it. Remember, 60 per cent of B.C. voters recently voted for parties opposed to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Trudeau’s tanker ban on the north coast likely kills all prospects for oil pipelines to the west coast. And, in spite of what he says, the Energy East pipeline to the east coast will never get approved or built because he knows opposition in Quebec would cost him seats in Parliament.

That leaves Alberta with no new markets and just one market for oil: the U.S., which is striving, successfully, to become self-sufficient in oil, and leaves eastern Canada to import premium-priced crude.

Alberta’s late, great premier Peter Lougheed must be turning over in his grave. And Justin, you can kiss goodbye to your four Liberal seats in Alberta and at least one of your 17 seats in B.C.

Mike Priaro, Calgary