Quote:
Originally Posted by csbvan
This project was never going to happen. The legal battles would have made it untenable given the T'silqotin decision. It makes political sense to kill it too. The Conservatives got demolished in BC, and lost more votes in this province than anywhere else in Canada, almost combined. I don't think that it is smart politics to attempt to ram a pipeline through BC that most British Columbians opposed, and that doesn't provide any benefit to BC.
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Firstly, Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway pipeline NEB approval had 209 conditions attached to same. And those conditions were extremely difficult/if not impossible to meet inclusive of several relating to FN support.
BTW, the Cons still came in 2nd place in BC at 30% popular vote share (as opposed to 46% in 2011) but that had more to do with Harper himself and his style of governing than anything else. I know many 2011 Con voters myself that switched to the Liberals in 2015 as a result.
Had nothing to do with "pipelines". In fact, that issue remained at the bottom of the list in terms of BC voters "Top of Mind Issues".
In terms of BC opposition to the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline, it has consistently had a 33% "Strongly" disapprove polling figure the only figure that really matters. And these folk spread their votes around to the Greens, Liberals, and NDP.
As for the Kinder Morgan pipeline twinning, it has consistently even had a lower level of opposition with a 23% "Strongly" disapprove polling figure.
As for economic benefits of just the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline?
1. A $6.5 billion construction project over several years employing 3,000 building trades over several years as well as BC suppliers;
2. 560 long-term BC jobs in terms of operations;
3. $1.2 billion in provincial tax revenues for BC over 30 years;
4. Increase in property tax revenue for affected BC municipalities by $36 million/annum;
5. And, based upon the BC gov't's 4 conditions, would also likely see a $1 or so tariff for every barrel of oil flowing through same, which could equate to perhaps another roughly $180 million into BC gov't coffers per annum;
Again, the proposed Northern Gateway greenfield pipeline project to NW BC is dead. But Kinder Morgan's proposed brownfield pipeline twinning project to the SW BC coast is very much alive and will likely be green-lighted at the end of the proverbial day.