Enbridge Northern Gateway Project Joint Review Panel Letter of Comment

There has been a lot of talk about the pipelines lately about who can have a say, who can attend meetings.   Well now, we can all have a say.  Please go to the website and leave your own comment.   http://gatewaypanel.review-examen.gc.ca/efile/LetterOfComment4.aspx
Not sure what to say?  Well there are plenty of reasons to be against the pipelines, we need to seek other fuels and energy sources other than oil, BC's temperate rainforest, fisheries, freshwater supply, leaks, salmon populations, endangered species, marine mammals, First Nations, economy, people of BC/Alberta, society, culture.   Here is my comment

I am opposed to the Enbridge Pipeline.   As a marine biologist, I see the pipeline as an environmental hazard.   British Columbia's temperate rain forest is so pristine, and natural it is our duty as Canadians to help protect and conserve it as well as the species within it.  This pipeline is a threat to forests, freshwater, fisheries, salmon populations, marine mammals, birds, and so many other already threatened animals.   Oil pipelines violate the fisheries act, for working around water, environmental assessment act, and so many other federal and provincial laws for Alberta and BC.   Why are laws thrown aside, or ignored for this, and what are the benefits, besides money and will the money we get out of it be more than we put in.   What happened to cost-benefit analysis?  These are supposed to cover not just financial costs!  Also, what about the people who live along the gateway, not only First Nations, but other people as well.  Their homes, jobs, society and culture are being threatened as well.  There have been 170 leaks in the last 10 years, can we guarantee the Enbridge pipeline wont leak.

Back to my marine biology background, the pipeline would cross salmon spawning grounds.   A leak here would be detrimental to salmon populations, salmon die after returning to rivers to spawn, if a leak occurred here salmon eggs would be destroyed, and the salmon’s habitat would be destroyed and they would not be able to return, and therefore not be able to spawn and the population would not be able to flourish.  This would really hurt the native fishery, the recreational fishery, and the commercial fishery, and inturn BC’s economy which makes millions of dollars from the fishing industry. 

Please think twice about this pipeline and see if it is really worth the cost that it will to British Columbia? Or to Canada?   British Columbia is a Have Province, so is Alberta, but feeding Alberta's oil industry, could cause BC to become a Have Not Province, as well as Alberta if leaks occur.  

Thank you, 

Karleen Sirna