Trans Mountain pipeline splits opinions
Re Pipeline ruling shockwaves felt across Canada, Aug. 31
Last week, the Federal Court of Appeal told the government what they should have already known about the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion — the National Energy Board vetting process was horribly flawed, and there was inadequate consultation with the Indigenous people who are affected by it.
The proposed pipeline expansion is unfathomable. Even without citizen protests, the financial community knows that investment in the oilsands has no future. Bankers are pulling out and investors are looking to recover their investments. Canada has wasted billions in subsidies to oil companies instead of building the infrastructure for a renewable energy industry. Even when the oil industry was viable, Alberta failed to recover the revenues it was entitled to with too low taxes and too low royalties. Meanwhile, Norway has made its citizens millionaires by nationalizing its oil industry and undertaking development in an environmentally sustainable way. Canada has given its resources away for a song and now has little to show for it. Compounding the mistake by continuing to prop up a failing industry is a crime against future generations. Canada will have to make wrenching adaptations just to survive when the true cost of climate change hits us. I fear for my children and grandchildren. Our resources should be directed to building renewable energy and transitioning the workers who will be affected. Those employed by the fossil fuel industry should not bear the brunt of the transition. They should be supported through our tax dollars as they are retrained and find new jobs. I implore the government to end the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project now. Patricia E. McGrail, Brampton Canadians must decide what kind of energy and economic future they want. The oil industry accounts for nearly 10 per cent of Canada's GDP. Face it — we still need oil for society to function. As we've seen in Ontario, it is very difficult to switch to a green economy, despite the obvious benefits. I hope the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion eventually goes ahead and that Canada isn't torn apart by the politics of energy. Andrew van Velzen, Toronto