Dear Editor:
Alberta Premier Alison Redford's reaction to the conditions B.C. has placed on heavy oil pipelines is very disappointing, particularly her reaction to the condition that B.C. receive a fair share of the economic and fiscal benefits commensurate with the degree and nature of the risk borne by B.C.'s environment and taxpayers. Heavy oil is unlike any other substance transported by pipeline. What Alberta is asking of B.C. goes far beyond any existing interprovincial goods movement arrangement under confederation.
Moreover, Redford's position does not seem to be consistent with that of her own energy minister, Ted Morton, who in February agreed that there will have to be clearer benefits for B.C. in order to get the people of British Columbia to support the Northern Gateway pipeline.
As he said to The Globe and Mail editorial board: "(The issue of) equalizing riskbenefit ratios between B.C. and Alberta has to be addressed."
Scott Harrison via email
