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Setting the record straight

In a letter to the editor May 27, Margaret Ouwehand presented an inaccurate portrayal of comments I made in a Sentinel article printed weeks ago.

Dear sir,

In a letter to the editor May 27, Margaret Ouwehand presented an inaccurate portrayal of comments I made in a Sentinel article printed weeks ago.

In the interest of reiterating the facts about a project that would bring with it such enormous benefits to the residents of the region, to British Columbians and, indeed, to all Canadians, I feel I must set the record straight.

What I said was that there has been no National Energy Board-regulated pipeline built within the last 20 years to have suffered a leak.

According to the Transportation Safety Board of Canada and the US Department of Transportation, transmission pipelines are the safest means of transporting the large volumes of oil.

In addition to the fewest releases, pipeline transportation has the lowest energy requirements and carbon footprint compared to other modes of transportation.

If Ms. Ouwehand wishes more facts, I’m happy to oblige.

Northern Gateway is a tremendous opportunity to build for the future, and provide jobs and prosperity for future generations of Canadians.

Some 1,150 long term jobs will be created, 560 of those in BC.

An estimated $4.3 billion of total labour-related income will be created during construction and $68 million per year during operations.

Some $2.6 billion will flow in tax revenue for local, provincial and federal governments and the project would boost Canadian Gross

Domestic Product an astounding $270 billion over 30 years.

That’s a staggering financial benefit to everyone.

Thank you for the opportunity to give your readers the facts on pipelines and the Northern Gateway Project.

Colin Kinsley

Chairman,

 

Northern Gateway Alliance.