Ex-NDP deputy minister errs in pipeline critique

Re: Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion not needed, Opinion, April 17

In his opinion piece, Thomas Gunton makes the erroneous claim that the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is not needed.

Mr. Gunton claims that the world’s efforts to transition away from fossil fuels is resulting in reducing consumption, and therefore a lack of demand for fossil fuels.

Although it is true that efforts are being made to transition, the fact is that world demand continues to increase, and is forecast to continue to do so. Information from the U.S. government shows total world production of crude oil increasing from 97.2 million barrels a day in 2016 to 102.22 million forecast for 2019, with consumption up a similar amount over that period.

Mr. Gunton goes on to state that “Alberta’s oil production forecasts have declined by about 1.5 million barrels per day, thus reducing the demand for new pipelines.”

This statement too is incorrect. Data from the Alberta Energy Administrator shows that while Alberta’s production did flatten in 2016 due to the temporary slump in oil prices, it is forecast to increase in 2017 and into the foreseeable future.

While these facts may not sit well with

Mr. Gunton and his environmental political objectives, it is disingenuous of him to write this fiction, and unfortunate that The Sun published it.

It is not possible to unring a bell.

Ric Pow, Vancouver