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LETTER: Spill report looks like blatant political act

So, the premier of British Columbia wants to commission a report on the “possible effects” to our coastal waters and sea life if an oil spill were to occur there.
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So, the premier of British Columbia wants to commission a report on the “possible effects” to our coastal waters and sea life if an oil spill were to occur there.

This is a blatant political act, designed to not only further delay a start on the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion but also provide fuel for the adamant protesters and their organizations who are trying to prevent the expansion.

In my opinion, the cost of the report should not be funded with a single dollar of government revenues if such a biased, one-sided assessment is planned.

Instead, it should be paid for by the NDP party funds and/or the protesting organizations which will benefit from it.

A balanced assessment of this topic would properly include those actions already in place or planned with the objective of preventing such a disaster, thus providing a means of determining the probability of a dramatic incident. One established preventative action is use of double-hulled tankers. A planned action is to have ship’s pilots aboard all tankers, from Vancouver’s harbour to the Pacific Ocean, and vice versa. There are undoubtedly many more strategic actions of which I and almost everyone else are not aware (but we should be).

To those who seek zero-risk, I advise you there is no such thing unless one does nothing. There is risk in eating, there is risk in walking, riding a bike, driving a car, playing a sport or anything else one can name. The element of risk can or must be assessed and decisions made accordingly.

But, the decision to do nothing in this oil tanker matter would be significantly harmful to the finances of both Alberta and B.C. and to the Canadian economy.

My public message to our premier is this: Mr. Horgan, as premier of our province you are beholden to all the residents of British Columbia, and you diminish our democracy when you focus on your personal biases. You must take a balanced approach to all significant actions by our government.

Ralph Moore

Qualicum Beach