VANCOUVER -- British Columbia's environment minister has outlined what the province needs to support the controversial Enbridge pipeline, saying answers to questions about Northern Gateway have so far been "insufficient."
Terry Lake said Monday that B.C. must receive a fair share of the economic benefits to reflect the risks such projects pose for taxpayers and the environment.
The province also wants a joint action plan with Ottawa to ensure an oil spill and all the resulting financial burden posed by a major environmental catastrophe won't fall on B.C.'s shoulders alone.
"When we consider the prospect of a heavy oil pipeline and of the increased oil tanker traffic that would result, it is clear that our spill prevention and response plans will require significant improvements," Lake said in a news release.
The province wants limits to liability in the event of an oil spill to ensure there are sufficient financial resources to properly address the effects of a spill and it is calling for increased federal government response.
B.C. also wants tougher federal rules requiring industry to provide and replace marine response equipment.
And the province wants a Natural Resources Damage Assessment process to give certainty that a responsible party will address all costs associated with a spill.
"Our government has already initiated discussions with the federal government on improving our response plans and resources," Lake said.
The government's policy requires First Nations and treaty rights to be addressed and for aboriginals to be provided with opportunities as part of any heavy-oil project.
The details come just days after Premier Christy Clark was critical of Calgary-based Enbridge Inc., (TSX:ENB) following a U.S. report slamming the company's handling of a major oil spill in Michigan.
Enbridge has proposed the $5.5-billion Northern Gateway pipeline from the Alberta oilsands to port in Kitimat, on B.C.'s West Coast.
Clark has joined other critics in noting B.C. bears most of the risk and almost none of the benefits from the development.
Late last week, Enbridge announced plans to spend up to $500 million to improve safety features for the Northern Gateway project.
However, many First Nations have already dismissed the plan, complaining it fails to address concerns about the environmental threat from tankers carrying oil along the B.C. coast.
The provincial NDP is also opposed to the project. [Tyee]
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pwlg
43 weeks ago
a joke i presume
Is it April Fools Day? The weather sure feels like it is and the BC Government seems to think it is.
Lake and the rest of the Clark troopers haven't a clue and think we don't either. Their ignorance of pipeline so called clean-ups is evident. Their ignorance of the pipeline business is showing and since Enbridge appears to be making changes to their proposal after the Joint Panel hearings have been hearing public testimony for months now is a way to confuse and distract the public.
This is a company that has failed in its $7 million dollar ad noise campaign, failed in acting appropriately in maintaining its existing pipelines and is attempting to extend a flawed proposal.
Since the federal oversight agencies for pipelines has failed to even read most of the emergency and security plans for pipelines in this country what good will it do to have Enbridge fill up more paper with promises it can't keep.
Sask Resident
43 weeks ago
pwlg: Unlike you, Many have read the EIS
Lots of federal civil servants in 2 provinces and in Ottawa have read and dissected the EIS, and hire private companies to do further work. The provincial agencies have done something similar as have groups that are opposing the pipeline like Greenpeace. The federal government has also given large sums of money to tribal councils to hire expertise to review the EIS and operating plans and provide input to the hearings. Politicians have to rely on the advice, conclusions and recommendations from their public servants.
All you can do is read the EIS and make your own conclusions.
crankypants
43 weeks ago
Let's face it
This dog and pony show put on by Mary Polak and Terry Lake was nothing more than an election ploy concocted by Christy Clark and her backroom brainthrusts. The BC Liberal Party has gotten themselves in a no-win situation by sitting on the fence and are in danger of falling further in the polls should they come out for or against the Northern Gateway Pipeline.
The BC NDP Party staked out the anti side of the issue and the BC Conservatives the pro side. Christy and her crew thought that being non-commital would placate both sides of the coalition and now realize that they have scored no points from either side. So they come out pretending to be in charge of BC's interest by basically saying nothing.
Enbridge may have been referred to as the Keystone Kops in regard to their incompetence regarding the oil spill in Michigan, but we seem to have our own version governing BC.
oldcrank
43 weeks ago
Its a step worth supporting
While some think this is a cynical election ploy, I welcome the new stance on the pipeline.
The provincial government cannot simply sit on the sidelines on this issue. It was wrong to do that. It is now correcting that error.
It is up to us, and the opposition, to make sure that they carry out the process they have outlined.
What we need is a clear understanding of the issues and the risks. We need to understand the benefits as well. We won't get either understanding if the only sources of information are the company and the federal government.
It is too clear to all that the federal government is going "pedal to the metal" on the tar sands. They are not standing back and thinking about the bigger picture.
The recent senate report on energy serves as a strong rebuke to the Harper "full speed ahead and damn the torpedoes" energy policies. The BC policy is more in line with the senate report.
Why disparage this small step toward responsible energy development? Why not encourage this progress?