Dear Editor: I live in North Burnaby (Mountain area). I am personally inclined to be against the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion because it would go practically through my backyard.
I am, however, disturbed by the way our government officials, MLAs, express their opposition against the construction of it. The way they openly defy the law, and are even proud of it, is despicable. There are other ways to protest and show one’s disapproval. Government officials are our representatives and should be an example for our younger generation how to live “democracy.”
I am also a citizen of B.C. and Canada and have to look at what is good and beneficial for my fellow citizens, including our neighbours in Alberta. In the near future we will still depend on oil resources. I am still using, as most people do, a gas-powered car, though I downsized to a smaller, more fuel-efficient one. I cannot ride my bike anymore because of health reasons. Could we come to some sensible agreement with Kinder Morgan?
I question if we, in the long run, need another pipeline. TransLink is experimenting with electro buses, electro cars become more affordable, China is producing electro cars which may affect our trade opportunities, and Europe is experimenting with alternative energy like solar and wind, tidal, biomass and safer nuclear energy. Our children and grandchildren may discover even more efficient energies. Will oil producers find it profitable in the future to build pipelines, which might be superfluous later on, when we have shifted to new cleaner, alternative energy resources?
Helmut Lemke, Burnaby
