Dear Editor
Let our leaders fly the B.C. coast and, with shipping traffic/historical data in hand, challenge themselves to make their recommendation about where to allow the diluted bitumen (dilbit) tanker facilities/sailings. Can you guess where dilbit infrastructure and tanker routes would not be recommended? Try Douglas Channel, Burrard Inlet and the International Salish Sea waters.
How many think an area "somewhere north of Prince Rupert" would be chosen to build one dilbit export facility?
Billions have been spent to develop the tar sands, but, sadly, little independent science is available about spilled bitumen in water. Ask our Canadian pipeline industry. (Recall the Enbridge, 2010 Kalamazoo, Michigan incident and the recent Husky Energy North Saskatchewan River "boo-boo.")
Like it or not, pipelines and tankers are about as safe as it can be. The B.C. public must be offered the least-risk option!
The B.C. public sees the need and value of exporting our resources via our coastal waters.
OK, Mr. Prime Minister, it’s time now to offer your promised, science-supported, "pipeline mediation" counsel - and let a West Coast bitumen pipeline be born!
Carl Shalansky, P. Eng (retired), by email
