Common Ground -- Closing the Northern Gateway on Enbridge

In January of this year, I attended a presentation in Vancouver by a woman named Beth from Battle Creek, Michigan. This was the second time I had heard her speak. As Beth showed slides of Enbridge’s massive oil spill in Michigan’s Kalamazoo River last July, the threat of a spill in the Fraser or Skeena watersheds became all the more real. You will recall Enbridge is the same company that wants to build the Northern Gateway pipeline across more than 1,000 rivers and streams, from Alberta to Kitimat, BC.

Beth talked about how Enbridge was slow to react to the spill. There was a high volume of 911 calls because of the stench of gas, but it took Enbridge more than 18 hours to report the oil spill. Residents soon discovered four million litres of Tar Sands oil had spilled into a creek that flows into the Kalamazoo River. Within days, a state of emergency was declared, as oil coated 40 miles of river and shorelines, saturated wetlands and put residents at risk from exposure to benzene’s carcinogenic effects.

Initially, Enbridge claimed full responsibility for the spill, with CEO Pat Daniel solemnly pledging, in front of TV cameras, the company would “help the families involved.” Then in a startling about-face, Enbridge hired a law firm to challenge the claims once media attention subsided. And Enbridge expects us to trust its promises with regard to its high-risk Northern Gateway project?

Enbridge has admitted it can’t promise there will be no spills, but the company tries to minimize the risks by touting technology and safety. Its massive oil spill in Michigan – and oil spills every week across all of its pipelines – reveals its promises are as toxic as the oil it transports.

What really struck me about Beth’s slides was a photo of a wetland covered in oil. And the high-tech mechanism Enbridge was using to prevent wildlife from entering this area turned out to be a plastic owl on a stick. A plastic owl on a stick? Is this the kind of oil spill clean-up and management we can expect?
As Beth looked around at the beautiful BC mountain view before heading out, she turned to me and sighed, saying she wouldn’t trust Enbridge to build pipelines safely in this dramatic Northern landscape. And we don’t.
Opposition to the Enbridge BC pipeline project that would introduce more than 225 oil tankers to BC’s north coast is strong and growing. Over 70 First Nations, a majority of BC municipalities and all Federal opposition parties have declared to support a tanker ban to stop the project. A tanker ban will not only prevent Enbridge’s project from going ahead but it will also prevent similar threats, such as CN’s “Pipeline on Rails” proposal.
All British Columbians need to ask their MP or their election candidates where they stand on the tanker ban. We must all vote for the coast.