Given the words of both Premier Horgan and one-time radical environmentalist George Heyman, we’re not going to see any change in the BC government position

Alan Forseth ~~ Kamloops, BC ~~ May 1^st, 2019

On April 16^th BC NDP Premier John Horgan stated; “This morning, I called Jason Kenney to congratulate him ... conversation was constructive and focused on issues that matter to both Alberta and British Columbia. We agreed to talk about challenges in the days ahead ... further conversations and working together in the interests of both of our provinces.”

BC Environment Minister
George Heyman

Well so much for working together for the interests of both provinces – it didn’t even last 24 hours!  On the very same day, whether deliberate or not, George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy, issued a statement with respect to the Senate Standing Committee on Transport and Communications hearings on Bill C-48 (the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act).  In it he asserted the same thing our government has stated from the start, and never wavered from:

“We oppose the expansion of the movement of heavy oil through our coastal waters and we have been consistent in this position.”

That sound like a position very much opposed to one where two neighbouring governments are attempting to ‘work together in the interests of both of our provinces’.  Are you as confused as me, when it comes to the words of Premier John Horgan, and Environment Minister George Heyman?  Words spoken on the very same day.

Well the comments of Heyman actually do make sense if you consider that he is a former social, environmental and labour activist ... and also served as the Executive Director of the Sierra Club, before being elected as an NDP MLA.

They are also very much a contrast, although not unexpected, to the words of United Conservative Party Premier Jason Kenney spoken yesterday:

Premier Jason Kenney and Energy Minister Sonya Savage at

  Standing Senate Committee on Transport and Communications

“Our government is proud to stand up for Alberta’s 151,000 energy workers, its economy and its future. Bill C-48 is only part of a massive attack on Alberta’s — and Canada’s — natural resource economy under the current federal government’s agenda. And we will continue to fight back, because our track record in protecting the environment, our commitment to leadership in innovation and, above all, our success in sharing those benefits throughout the Canadian economy, are unmatched.”

He continued ... “Today, one of my first acts as Alberta’s new Premier was to appear before the Senate committee reviewing Bill C-48 — which would ban Canadian oil tankers off much of Canada’s west coast.”

Bill C-48 is little more than an illogical ban of oil tankers on BC’s north west coast ... meantime the federal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau turns a blind eye to oil tankers from Alaska passing through the same waters in which Alberta oil is banned. Loaded foreign oil tankers will continue to travel the British Columbia coast between Alaska and Washington.

Across country, fully loaded foreign oil tankers will continue to traverse Quebec’s St. Lawrence seaway – without a word of protest.  This is the same province where the hypocritical, government of the Coalition Avenir Quebec, led by Premier Francois Legault, says there is ‘no appetite for a new pipeline in the province’.  This is the same premier has also criticized Alberta's oil industry for producing "dirty" energy.

I think perhaps it would be a good idea for Legault to spend time in countries where real and actual dirty oil is produced ... where polluted waste spills over the landscape and into waterways of these countries ... to live and eat among the poorest of the poor ... and to see the clouds of toxic waste belching into the sky ... to see that frontier justice still exists with people being murdered, or locked up in jails for speaking out.

THAT'S WHERE DIRTY OIL IS PRODUCED MR, LEGAULT ... and it's the same dirty energy that you continue to welcome into your province. 

In our country meantime ... in the province of Quebec ... in the province of Alberta ... and in the province of British Columbia ... we have two sets of laws.  Clean Canadian energy is blocked from reaching markets – meantime the dirtiest oils in the world continue to make there way into Canada’s east coast with out concern – with total hypocrisy.

I doubt that Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad really had any hope of this happening, however a week ago on Facebook he asked:

“With the United Conservative Party of Jason Kenney elected in Alberta, will the B.C. NDP yield to pressure, and stop trying to block the Trans Mountain Pipeline?”

“Will NDP Premier John Horgan accept that the majority of BC understands the need for this pipeline, and the need to be part of Canada and go to Alberta to find a path forward?”

He then concluded; “Or will John Horgan’s government keep cozying up to the American funded environmental groups and his buddy, the governor of Washington State, for the benefit of the USA?”

Given the on-going words of both Premier Horgan, and one-time radical environmentalist George Heyman, we’re not going to see any change in the BC government position 

.

Instead there will be more court action ... more government legislation and directives which will directly and indirectly interfere with resource development.

That will mean billions in lost revenues ... revenues not available for what the province needs – and needs in a timelier manner.

Schools ... hospitals ... highways and other road infrastructure ... a better handle on homelessness ... a trues concerted effort against human degradation as thousands die every year due to the carnage of poisoned drugs ... and a return of government services in rural communities.

I’ll leave today with a few more words from MLA Rustad, penned on Facebook:

“The hypocrisy of what is happening in B.C. by this government is crazy. In court to try and stop oil from Alberta”. 

“In court to try and force oil from Alberta ... while saying nothing about the 10 (Alaskan) tankers going through our waters every day to the USA”.

“Saying 1 tanker sailing a day is too much noise for the whales while approving 2700 new ferry sailing that move faster and are noisier than a tanker”.

“There is so much it really makes me wonder how people can be so blind to NDP Horgan’s comments. The NDP are about politics all the time. They could give a rats backside about what is best for BC or its people unless it gets them a vote”.

I couldn’t agree with you more John!