Dear Editor
Does Burnaby want to gamble on a toxic oil spill? The proposed major expansion of the Kinder Morgan oil export facility in Burnaby is a significant threat to Burnaby citizens.
If approved, the project will more than triple the amount of toxic tar sands bitumen that flows through Burnaby. It would also more than triple the number of oil tankers that travel through English Bay and Burrard Inlet. Some of the proposed oil tankers would be so large they could only pass under the Second Narrows bridge at high tide and would do so with only 1.5 metres of clearance between their hulls and the bottom of the inlet.
Should there be a significant tanker incident in Burrard Inlet, park and beach areas like Barnet Marine Park, Cates Park, Belcarrsa Park, Deep Cove Park, New Brighton Park and Stanley Park would be harmed beyond repair. We need our premier and our MLAs to take a firm stand and tell the National Energy Board that we cannot accept this risk.
Burnaby North MLA Richard T. Lee is largely silent on this issue. His only response to repeated calls for him to represent the citizens of Burnaby North is to repeat Christy Clark’s “five conditions” for oil pipeline approval. Mr. Lee will only go so far as to say “at least four of the five conditions have not been met.”
Christy Clark needs to take a stand against greedy oil interests (who fund her election campaigns) and tell them that the residents of Burnaby and the rest of British Columbia cannot accept such a huge gamble.
Mr. Lee needs to speak for the residents of Burnaby North – not for the premier. Mr. Lee currently faces a recall campaign because he does not seem to appreciate that he is paid to work for the citizens of Burnaby North – not for Christy Clark.
Larry Myers, Burnaby
