Burnaby pipeline protesters are Alberta-destroying hypocrites

Re: Protests underline deep divide in B.C. over pipeline expansion, March 12

I would like to point out the hypocrisy of the recent anti-pipeline protest in Burnaby.

I live in northwestern Alberta and several years ago noticed a huge pipeline project being built that was to bring natural gas and fluids from B.C. into Alberta. I also note that the Site C dam is going to finish the job of destroying the Wood Buffalo wetlands that the W.A.C. Bennett Dam started. This project will mainly provide energy to create liquefied natural gas for the Asian market, which will mean more pipelines — but not in the Lower Mainland. This too will create a large revenue stream that will pave your roads, build your schools and pay your teachers.

If you want to be seen as environmentally aware, I would suggest that you ponder the record of your province in destroying the natural beauty of your neighbour. UNESCO has threatened to remove the world heritage site status of Wood Buffalo National Park unless steps are taken to maintain this hugely important wetland. Hundreds of Indigenous people live near and depend on this land base, but they can’t vote in B.C. Millions of waterfowl and songbirds depend on the Wood Buffalo wetlands, but they don’t vote at all, and neither do the trees and animals that made up the thousands of hectares of forest that were stripped bare for your pipeline.

It’s a wonderful feeling to wrap yourself in a rainbow, hug a tree and commiserate with the Indigenous people in your backyard. Why not travel 1,500 kilometres and try it in mine? Brian Hohner, North Star, Alta.