Mike Howell,
Thanks for letting Mayor Moonbeam use your column in getting out his message, I'm not sure why you did because I didn't see any solutions or alternatives. Anyone can blabber on and on about shifting reliance on oil and using clean renewable energy. It's disingenuous for him to say BC, Vancouver and even Canada will not benefit from the pipeline. Is he telling us someone came up with this idea of expanding the pipeline and not expect anything in return? Given that it's Morgan Kinder is he saying they're not going to compensate Canada, BC, Alberta for expanding the pipeline? He may question the amount of the compensation but is he telling us that we would allow this without some benefits coming back? I guess he thinks we're idiots. He states 6% drop in fuel sales since 1999, one has to assume sales from the GVRD but like the politician he is they never state the obvious. Unless moonbeam is living in a cave and he might be, there's been a definite shift of gas purchases away from GVRD..places east where the fuel surcharges aren't so onerous and of course Washington State. I don't disagree there may be a drop in purchases due to the costs and engine efficiencies but of that 6% I'm sure much of it is related to this shift.
Since he's concerned about increased tanker traffic can I assume he's on board with building a fuel pipeline to YVR? My understanding is with the growth of traffic at the airport comes the demand for jet fuel and without a pipeline there's going to be increases in barge traffic and whatever means they use to deliver this jet fuel to the planes. I'm sure his solution will be to stop flying and tell Richmond to build a bike lane to the airport.
I'm tired of celebrities, sports figures, millionaires and billionaires telling us it's okay to pay $10 a litre and to drive an electric vehicle. They don't speak for the masses...they can afford whatever expensive alternatives comes on the market, while the rest of us can take a "hike" in more ways then one. I ride a bike to work whenever possible but I want it to be my option to do so, not have it dictated to me. Naive and ignorant readers will never question a charismatic figure like Moonbeam at face value. It's very fortunate the City of Vancouver does not have jurisdiction over the port. Hey, I tried to get him out of office but obviously he's a popular man with the citizens.
Regards,
Lambert Low
