Washington State Gov. wrong to stick nose in B.C. politics
I see Gov. Jay Inslee of Washington State has taken sides on the Kinder Morgan pipeline project.
I would point out to the governor that Haro Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca are subject to a treaty between the U.S. and Canada, not an agreement between his state and B.C. I would also note that the five oil refineries in his state between Cherry Point and Anacortes have been importing a quantity of crude oil similar to the expected quantity to be shipped from the Westridge Marine Terminal, and have been doing so for some 50 years.
His proposals, if incorporated into the treaty, would apply to all vessels plying these waters, including tankers bound for his refineries. Ken James, Richmond
Not Inslee’s place to speak
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, a Clinton Democrat, decided that it was his place to wade into Canadian pipeline politics and praise Premier John Horgan for listening to “the people” and preaching political support for the anti-pipeline movement.
I think when Inslee refers to “the people,” he is referring to the vocal, left-wing minority. These comments stem from his own ideology, not the rational thought of the silent majority here in Canada. I’d like to remind the governor that being American does not entitle him to meddle abroad and throw his ideological blanket over all of that country’s citizens.
Kenneth Clarke, Campbell River
We still need oil
I fully support the protection of the environment and shifting our energy needs to renewables, but this is not going to happen in the next year or two.
What I do know is that B.C. is receiving a massive influx of cash from B.C. residents working in the oil industry. The company I work for, one of the smaller production facilities, employs approximately 75 B.C. residents, many receiving and paying taxes on six-figure salaries. If opponents of pipelines and fossil fuels really want to make a difference, they should stop driving, flying, heating their homes or buying anything made from petroleum products, including cellphones. Siegy Wuensche, Quesnel
Cameras cause distraction
When a person is threatened, they will do whatever they can to avoid the consequences.
So when threatened with harsh penalties posed by red light/speeding cameras, drivers will be forced to focus on their speedometers and not the road conditions and hazards. That seems like distracted driving to me.
There is a campaign now to stop distracted drivers, and yet the provincial government is creating distracted drivers. These cameras cannot stop a speeding car or prevent an accident. They only raise revenue, as drivers are penalized for watching the road. Allana Rempel, Langley
Cyclists should use bells
I am deaf in my left ear! Let me say that a LITTLE LOUDER for those who don’t, won’t or can’t understand what it’s like to be a handicapped individual walking on the Centennial Beach dike when a bicycle comes whooshing up from behind.
I can’t hear you coming! So why can’t those who ride bikes full bore on a shared pathway ring a bell when they are hurtling past? Give some thought to how you’d feel if an elderly person inadvertently stumbled into your pathway and was injured. Please get a bell! Ray Roch, Delta