After reading Kevin Ma’s June 1, 2011 article “Alexander to oppose pipeline,” I am concerned about this pipeline.
I do not want them to build that pipeline because Enbridge has had spills from its pipelines in the past and it would cost lots of money if they had another spill building this pipeline. A spill will affect wildlife throughout the reserve’s traditional lands and farmers’ lands. With that happening there will be a loss in food production, oil and natural resources.
If built, the first pipe would shuttle about 525,000 barrels of oil a day. That’s lots of work and energy. Using this much, everyone hopes that a spill will not occur. The company already has had 713 spills occur between 1999 and 2009. I am positive the chance for another spill is just waiting to happen.
Also if they add this pipeline, think about the greenhouse gases that they will be producing and the distribution of ecosystems and freshwater supplies. I don’t think we need more emissions.
But having this pipeline built will employ up to 3,000 people in British Columbia and Alberta during construction. The project will create about 1,150 long-term jobs in Canada. This will also add about $68 million in wages to the economy; so all this pipeline’s effects will not be bad. This pipeline will have a good effect on transporting oil to British Columbia. A west-coast pipeline would be a prudent move for Alberta’s economy. There still are more negative effects than positive effects about the pipeline.
Ashton Patrick, Camilla School
