EDITOR:
Prime Minister Trudeau seems to preach one thing but practice another and in the process, he is dividing Canadians. He claims Canada must cut its carbon footprint and promises to introduce a carbon tax for every province but Aug 1, 2018 Environment Minister Catherine McKenna gave big polluters a break on carbon levels. They pay a carbon tax on only 10 to 20 percent of their CO2 emissions, down from 30 per cent.
He claims getting oil to tide water is in the national interest. Trudeau’s message to West and Easts differs.
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To Westerners: Oil would flow through B.C. to the coast regardless of Indigenous or provincial concerns. He bought Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.2 billion. There is no refinery in B.C.; a refined product would add value to the oil. Instead our oil will be shipped to other countries to be refined. The courts ruled against the Liberals, stating they did not properly consult Indigenous people and did not consider the endangered whale population in B.C. waters. They will not adhere to the court’s ruling and suggestions until later.
To Easterners: Federal Liberal government requirements crippled pipeline east and Quebec objected to the project. Quebec is central to Trudeau’s re-election. New Brunswick has a refinery that is forced to buy oil off shore for processing. In the East, endangered whales were considered. When whales were detected the speed for vessels 20 meters or longer was reduced to 10 knots. Lobster and crab fishers were required to pull their gear.
Gary A. O. MacKay,
Birch Hill
