Skip to content

So many questions about the pipeline

Answers aren’t easy to find
11536210_web1_Letters2

I’m writing today as a B.C. citizen who is completely befuddled by this pipeline dispute. I’m suspecting the powers that be aren’t telling us what’s really going on and it is proving impossible to get any real truth.

I have created a list of questions that are not being answered in anything I’m reading, which includes Black Press, CBC, The Tyee, National Post, and others. I’m wondering if journalists could/would use them as a framework for an article or investigation.

1. What are these ‘new’ global markets this pipeline expansion will supposedly serve?

2. I have read Asia does not want Canadian petroleum and, in fact, there is a global glut of less expensive petroleum products. Our product isn’t marketable. So what is the net gain for Canada?

3. I have read articles that say only one per cent of the product (today) is shipped to Asia, the rest is bought by the U.S.A. and it goes to refineries in Washington and California. Is that true?

4. If 3 is true, then what sense is there in piping the dilbit to a ship so it can be shipped down our common coast? Why not pipe it directly overland to Washington and California refineries? What am I missing?

5. Various articles indicate varying degrees of anticipated increased tanker traffic in the Salish Sea. Protestors say it will go up by a factor of seven. Proponents say only one more tanker per day. What is the truth?

6. Proponents say there hasn’t been a tanker spill in B.C. waters in 60 years. Is it valid to use past history as a predictor of future risks if the volume of traffic changes?

7. Proponents say the pipeline expansion went through thorough and scientifically valid environmental scrutiny and passed. It will be safe. Protestors say the energy board is corrupt. What is the truth?

8. Wikipedia says Canada is a net exporter of petroleum products on the West Coast while it simultaneously is a net importer of petroleum products on the East Coast. On the face of it, it would seem obvious the west should supply the needs of the east. What am I missing?

9. We are told the pipeline protest is killing investment in Canada. What investments are these? How big are they? Is this a real thing?

10. We are told that many (most?) of the protesters are paid American plants who want to keep Canadian petroleum prices depressed relative to the WTI. Any truth to this?

11. Is it true the Burnaby refinery is offline (lack of supply?) and B.C. is therefore importing gasoline from Washington and hence the $1.50/litre price?

12. I read a comment that Alberta already refines its raw petroleum and, in fact, it produces more refined product than the domestic market can consume. This is offered as refutation of the argument that Alberta should stop shipping out raw material and should produce end products instead. True?

13. Regarding the oil sands project, some folks claim it is the worst man-made environmental disaster in history, while others claim the oil sands is a natural phenomenon that we are actually cleaning up by extracting the oil. Hence, the oil industry is slowly converting a natural environmental disaster into a reforested thriving biozone. What’s the real truth here?

14. Justin Trudeau claims that by exporting dilbit, Canada is actually helping to reduce global warming and/or meet its obligations under Paris, or some similar claim. How does this work?

Brad Grigor

Saltair