Municipalities suing big oil is just a start

Apparently the carbon tax is not enough, B.C.’s municipal mayors and councillors are considering a class action lawsuit to sue Big Oil to offset costs of dealing with atmospheric rivers, polar vortexes and heat domes.

In support of prosecuting Big Oil, let’s sue the automakers who created the internal combustion engine that largely contributes to our greenhouse gases.

Further, let’s sue our urban planning departments who created the far reaching suburban areas of single family homes where we had no choice but to buy vehicles for commuting to our place of work.

Should we also sue the engineering, construction, cement and asphalt companies who contributed by making our extensive road networks.

How about suing aircraft manufacturers; they use billions of litres of aviation fuel every year jetting us around to important family, business and holiday commitments.

With this line of thinking, we should sue the farmers who grow the agricultural feedstock (corn, sugar, grain) that’s converted to ethanol and added to our gasoline blends.

So far, we sued big tobacco for addictive cigarettes, we sued pharmaceutical companies for creating opioids we found addictive, so sure, add oil companies to the list.

What surprises me is why we haven’t sued wineries, breweries or distilleries. We all know alcohol is very addictive and potentially destructive to our physical and mental health, our families’ wellbeing, career paths and a burden to fragile health care systems, yet we continue to consume this socially acceptable and “taxable” product.

B.C.’s municipal councils have greater priorities. Get refocused.

Steve Hertling Qualicum Beach