Dear Editor:
Re: Pipeline expansion will benefit Burnaby residents (Letters to the editor, Burnaby NOW, Jan. 10)
Yes, the Burnaby Board of Trade hosted a workshop regarding potential opportunities the Kinder Morgan pipeline could present for local businesses. But let’s not gloss over the fact that the Burnaby Board of Trade, in a special report to its members, raised a number of concerns regarding a project that 70 per cent of Burnaby residents oppose; including:
*the economic benefits of this project do not flow to Burnaby in a manner equal to the risk undertaken by the city;
*the successful recovery of any taxpayer funds extended to industry in the event of a spill
*Aframax tankers that will carry 680,000 barrels (85 per cent capacity) when the current spill response is 70,000 barrels in 10 days; and
*the impact of a large earthquake.
In a nutshell, what I heard the BBOT say is “since the Trudeau Liberals are shoving this pipeline down our throats, we might as well explore the so-called local benefits.” Those few who could benefit financially could have a different perspective. For the vast majority of us, this project is a lose-lose proposition.
Peter Cech, Burnaby
