The NEB’s decision was not a huge surprise.
In a nutshell: “The Board finds that the Project is in Canada’s public interest, and recommends the GIC approve the Project...”
Unfortunately the process was skewed from the beginning because the NEB’s very job is to look out for energy projects. It’s not called the National Energy Board for nothing.
While it has tried to send a message that it is not merely rubber stamping a big oil project, not many folks believe it. It piles on more conditions in an attempt to quell concerns this project is just another environmental disaster waiting to happen. It’s voluminous report attempts to ignore what every reasonable person can see – it doesn’t make sense to have a narrow inlet serve as an oil tanker freeway. And it makes even less sense to put it in an earthquake zone which scientists say is coming close to bringing on the big one.
The NEB’s mandate does not include considering climate change – so, understandably, it gets a pass on that one. But it shouldn’t. Certainly not if it wants to say the project is in “Canada’s public interest.”
Is Canada’s public interest not served by having a liveable planet?
But, even if you put that aside, the economic benefits to Burnaby as a community will be limited and both the Burnaby Board of Trade and the City of Burnaby have said any risks and impacts far outweigh any potential benefits. So, are we to understand that Burnaby is taking one for the team?
Now, ultimately, it will be up to the federal government to make the final decision. But we doubt if Justin Trudeau will step up and overrule the NEB’s decision.
While Trudeau has promised to reform a climate-change-denier government culture into a future-thinking environmentally conscious government, he’s also in charge of the government bank account.
Unfortunately, this decision by the NEB will now fuel the protests and increase cynicism.
The First Nations people have said they will not budge in their opposition, and the people in Burnaby will not be satisfied with this decision.
It will encourage the oil sector to believe that, while new expectations have to be met, they’re almost guaranteed a final nod if any amount of money can flow into government coffers.
This decision is a recipe for conflict, not consultation, as the NEB would like it to be perceived.
