News
UBCM vote puts pressure on pipeline project
Oct 13, 2010, Interior News (Read article on originating site site)
By Cameron Orr
On Oct. 1, delegates at the Union of B.C. Municipalities (UBCM) conference in Whistler voted by a wide margin on motions which will put increasing pressure on the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline by Enbridge.
First, the UBCM voted to urge the federal government to legislate a ban on bulk crude oil tanker traffic through the Queen Charlotte Sound, Dixon Entrance and the Hecate Strait.
Second, they voted on a resolution to oppose the transport of tar sands crude oil by pipeline through British Columbia.
Reports say that the motions passed by “significant margins.”
The decisions have area representatives talking, some supporting the UBCM while others are looking at the votes through critical eyes.
Smithers Mayor Cress Farrow, who was not involved in the voting for these motions, thinks decisions such as these can back the province into a corner when it comes to development.
“We have to be very careful what we wish for,” said Farrow. “When you’re talking moratorium on everything it could be dangerous.”
He said that there are a lot of projects that can be done well (not specifically the Enbridge proposal) but suggests that it may be better if people want to deal with specific items rather than blanket everyone with the same brush.
“As far as I’m concerned they should do some research …. and I feel that people should really listen to all sides and that’s the goal of our council … if we don’t listen to everybody we’re not going to get information that allows for good decision making.”
Telkwa councillor Taylor Bachrach, one of two of Telkwa’s elected representatives who went to the convention, wasn’t so strong with his take on the motions.
“I think that it shows that issue isn’t just a regional issue, it’s a provincial issue that people from all over B.C. care about,” he said. “I think it shows that there’s momentum building in opposition to the project going through.”
Stikine MLA Doug Donaldson said the vote result was not a surprise to him.
“I wasn’t shocked at the results of the vote because municipal politicians are in touch with the grassroots and what we’ve seen … [is] that the majority of people are against any super tanker traffic on the coast and the majority don’t see the benefits outweighing the risks on the oil pipeline.”
He found it interesting that there was a lack of debate over the motions at the convention, no one coming up to the microphone to speak against the resolution.
While motions like these are not binding to the government, he said the government ignores these sorts of resolutions at their own peril.
Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen was also surprised that the motion happened, noting that the UBCM tends to be a small-c conservative body.
“I think it’s an extremely strong signal that a group like this has also come to oppose the project and the tanker aspect of it as well,” he said.
He said a vote like this is a big blow to the Premier.
“Who’s left to bring onside? If the First Nations, the environmental groups, and now the majority of municipal leaders in B.C. are saying this, well, Enbridge has an impossibly high mountain to climb.”
Enbridge spokesperson Alan Roth said that they understand people have genuine concern that the project can be built and operated safely and emphasized that the project is undergoing “an impartial and rigorous regulatory review process to determine whether the project is in the public interest.”
He said the company feels that concerns will decrease in people as they learn the facts about the Northern Gateway Project and that it will bring “significant and lasting benefits” to Northern B.C. in an environmentally safe and sustainable way.
“It’s clearly in our national interest to have competition for our resources, in the same way that it is important for B.C.’s forest and mining industries to access markets outside North America,” he continued. “A vote against Northern Gateway and tanker traffic really amounts to a vote against the new jobs and opportunities needed in BC’s northern communities.”