Sheila Harrington
General Delivery, Lasqueti Island, BC V0R 2J0
Email is [email protected]

November 20, 2018

National Energy Board
210-517 Tenth Avenue
Calgary, Alberta
T2R 0A8

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

This is my third time of sending in comments to this board. Each time I say less because your terms of reference continue to dwindle down. This is not applicable to the real world and to the complex realities the interrelatedness shown by physics and ecology, nor is it conscienceable, especially considering the 12 year window that the scientists of the world have said we have to turn our culture around and stop producing carbon and pollutants. This is worse than a world war in its impacts, as if we continue or increase our use of fossil fuels, our planet, its people, your children, and all wildlife are at risk of survival.

First about the marine environment and the endangered southern resident orcas.

In Washington State, they have created an emergency task force to address the threats to these endangered species. “A governor’s task force published a new draft report Wednesday outlining options to help save beleaguered southern resident orcas. The report offers 36 draft recommendations. Most are centered on three broad initiatives: To increase the abundance of chinook salmon — orcas’ favorite food, to reduce noise and disturbance from sea vessels and to reduce orcas’ exposure to harmful pollutants.”

The increase in tankers travelling through Burrard Inlet (which has been reviewed by David Huntley and found on the NEB site (from double to apx. 5 times currently,) from the twinned/new federal/Kinder Morgan pipeline transiting through BC’s coast is right in the endangered orca’s habitat. This increase in vessel traffic will inhibit and reduce Southern Resident Orca communications with each other, their ability to echo-locate their food – salmon, and will likely increase pollution (both sound and particulate) in their habitat. This increase will impact local traffic in the inlet, the two bridges that must be transited, and through the busy Vancouver Harbour, then through the tidal and strong currents found in the Georgia and Juan de Fuca Straits. As Huntley (op cit) has described, the impacts within the Burrard Inlet itself will be significant to other marine, train and local traffic. However, the impacts in the marine areas outside of the harbour have not been thoroughly investigated, despite the City of Victoria, and The State of Washington’s written opposition to the project and its likely impacts on the marine environment and economy of these areas. The risk of spills is far too high to allow this new pipeline and increased terminal with the increase of tankers going through Burrard Inlet and off of a major city to proceed. Furthermore, no investigations of the behavior of spilled diluted bitumen has determined that it will in fact float, so no clean up is possible. Although the shipping and insurance industry reports on spills shows a descrease in spills in the last decade, there have been three in the last five years in the BC coast due to human error. In addition, In “the period 1970 to 2017, 50% of large spills occurred while the vessels were underway in open water; allisions, collisions and groundings accounted for 59% of the causes of these spills. Perhaps unsurprisingly, these same causes account for an even higher percentage of incidents when the vessel was underway in inland or restricted waters, being linked to some 99% of spills.” As the tankers will travel in inland waters, and no clean up of diluted bitumen has been proven, the risk is far too high to justify this project’s approval.

Secondly about the consultation with First Nations:

There is NOT approval of this pipeline throughout BC by First Nations. Now in BC we have a government mandated education system which requires that BC teachers (like myself) include information on the travesty of justice that has occurred to indigenous people in our country because they have not been properly consulted or given their rights to title and use of land. There is no consent for this pipeline and terminal and increase in tanker traffic by BC’s First Nations, except for a few individuals. The Union of BC Indian Chiefs is totally against this project.

Furthermore, at their recent Oct 2018 Annual General Assembly they reiterated that the federal governments Feb, 2018 Overview of new relationship discussions, is flawed:
WHEREAS on February 14, 2018, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Canada’s intention to embark on a nation-wide engagement strategy to discuss the development of a new Recognition and Implementation of Rights Framework (RIRF). Specifically, the Prime Minister stated:
“For too long, Indigenous Peoples in Canada have had to prove their rights exist and fight to have them recognized and fully implemented. To truly renew the relationship between Canada and Indigenous Peoples, the Government of Canada must make the recognition and implementation of
rights the basis for all relations between Indigenous Peoples and the federal government…[A]s a starting point, it should include new legislation and policy that will make the recognition and implementation of rights the basis for relations between Indigenous peoples and the federal government going forward”

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED the UBCIC Chiefs-in-Assembly reject Canada’s Overview Document and the paternalistic approach it takes to the RIRF, as it is contrary to the inherent human rights Indigenous peoples hold that are affirmed by the UN Declaration, does not recognize Aboriginal Title, and fails to create space for self-determination; (https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/ubcic/pages/132/attachments/original/1539623913/2018Oct_UBCICAGA_FinalResolutions.pdf?1539623913).

Although the climate change impacts of this project for some illogical reason are excluded from this review, it will be your and all of our own children and grandchildren who inherit this planet that has and will be impacted by your decisions about this project! We must turn things around, and the exclusion of this aspect to the “new” NEB review is deeply flawed. May you be able to look your grandchildren in the eye with self-respect because you said NO to this project.

Thank you, Sheila Harrington, Lasqueti Island, BC V0R 2J0

Dear NEB

Dear NEB and government representatives,

Respond by fax only? Well this is not starting out well.

It would appear that your first step in the legal requirement for meaningful consultation has been to limit or thwart public input. I am not sure who made this decision, but it certainly does not bolster public confidence in the legally required process.

Consent from the Coastal First Nations of the Salish Sea has not been granted for the Trans Mountain pipeline and tanker project. Without that consent, Canada does not have the right to build Trans Mountain.

A vast number of Canadian’s do not support further investment in fossil fuel infrastructure and see it as a threat, not only to British Columbia’s land and coastal waters, but to increasing climate change concerns and a step in the wrong direction, financially, morally and detrimental to the entire planet.

Economic considerations placed above all else is short sighted and will never be acceptable to First Nations or concerned citizens. The process the NEB has been instructed by government to conduct can never be made to appear anything other than what it is, a bad idea in the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Sincerely,

Reply
Forward

NEB members: i urge you to stop the plan for the Transmoubtain pipeline, to ensure that real consultation and genuine Indigenous consent happens, that the massive threats to the Southern Resident killer whales is addressed, and that the best interest of all life on the Westcoast is valued and protected.

We know that KM has not stopped working on Burnaby mountain although the public has been led to believe the work is on hold. They are building more roads across the tank farm, have built a second security fence around the first one and are raising more pylons at water’s edge. All signs that major protests are in store. How naïve to think that the battle was won, or that reason and common sense will prevail. Our country is run by big oil and pharmaceutical companies – our politicians may as well spend their days at their golf courses!

This fax thing would be hilarious if it wasn’t so sad. Is the ‘culture’ of the NEB to blame for this nonsense? If so a change in government and tweaking of its mandate won’t make the new sausages it grinds out taste any better than those old ones. :(

The Trudeau government has been relying on a numbers game to support its response to climate change. Whales do not compute numbers —at least not in human “carbon tax” terms. When they are gone, they are gone. We, the people, must join with our Indigenous leaders to save and sustain what makes this land unique, precious and healthy.

Stop the pipeline for the good of the land, the people of Canada and Mother Earth. Stop giving in to greed and stupidity for the sake of the oil companies. The pipeline was bought with the people’s money, do what the people want and shut it down.

The proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline is a ruinous idea for the following reasons:
1. It is almost too late to meet our climate target, let alone stop contributing to climate change, even if we spent all that money on converting to renewable energy sources.
2. There is NO way to clean up bitumen from the ocean. As the diluent evaporates out of the dillbit, it releases toxic, flammable and potentially explosive vapours, especially in an enclosed space like Vancouver Harbour. 3. Our whole west coast ocean life will be irreversibly destroyed, from tanker noise as well as spilled bitumen.
4. There is a limited world market for the low grade high sulphur product that comes out of the Alberta tarsands. This market will shrink even further with the limit on sulphur level in bunker fuel for ships that comes into effect in 2019. Getting this product “to tidewater” will not increase its value. Outside of the USA there are few refineries that can handle this low grade product.

There can be NO JOBS on a dead planet..! !!L .WHO ARE these destroyers of LIFE we are electing as our representatives of Democracy ? What a bleak and dire earth we will be giving to our beautiful children, so full of life and love. Will they know whales? Bears? Caribou? Moose? Will they experience the exquisite beauty of nature….”Super Natural BC” ..????How terribly sad! Already the EcoMarine System is suffering from untenable noises pollution, deadly impact,with tankers, suffocation from microplastic pollution ….

Where is the wisdom in destroying our Eco Systems?
Kaaren Soby

Dear National Energy Board As a Canadian that has watched the intermittent non sense of Canada’s political system all my life, I find myself feeling the same as I did when I was a child… why doesn’t the government do what they say they will, why do they keep doing things that make it harder and harder for the people and all other creatures to live a good life?? There is no excuse for the behavior of Canada’s decision makers, the time for honest intelligent politics is here and I expect this government to do the right thing for the future of all. There is no way this planet will continue functioning with deceptive decision makers in charge. Canada’s leaders need to pull their pants all the way up and make intelligent respectful choices that include ALL CANADIANS as well as the future of this earth and every living thing here within. I made the decision to vote for Trudeau’s government based on the hope that Canada might finally have leaders to care about it’s people and country, well, once again I feel deceived and conned. I will not be voting for this government again and have now returned to the tactic of ‘voting out’ the people currently in charge. Why, why do the people elected to serve this country continue to feed it’s people candy that is poisoned and treat our lands and resources as if they are a private piggy banks with endless $$$ to be taken out and zero consequences to follow? My heart is sickened by the events surrounding this pipeline, why do the people have to tell the government what is good for all, is there no common sense or foresight within anyone in charge?? Yes this is a democracy and the people are speaking, the whole world knows how passive and polite Canadians can be, so might I suggest y’all be listening carefully this time, we’re pissed!! Jane Hambrook Vancouver BC

Comment by FAX? Are you serious…does this government and the NEB think we are all idiots? This process is once again starting out on the wrong foot by trying to limit public input because they know the public does not support the governments plan to become a Johnny come lately in the fossil fuel industry.

If the government is not representing the electorate, or even listening to the voters of this country, Canadians will do their own re-assessment come the next election. The election results will not be determined by a judicial review but by Canadian voters who do not go “all in” on a risky hand and do not appreciate the shady tactics used by a crooked house of cards.

Time for Canadians to stand up and be counted…the only people that will protect our interests…are us voters.

Having Coast Saalish & European Settler lineage, born on the West Coast- as all my mothers before me, but living in Alberta now, I feel uniquely invested in the perplexing matter of the Trans Mountain Pipeline NEB consultations. I am concerned that the concept of consulting is inconsistent with UNDRIP’s right of Consent. Both Federal and Provincial Elected Govt.s have pledged to adopt UNDRIP, but Canadian case law precedent contravenes UNDRIP provisions, barring 1st Nation’s veto. With this inconsistency, there is no possible structural framework for NEB to mandate a sound decision. Trudeau and Horgan must offer more than lip service to their ceremonial comittments to UNDRIP, and the UN must make means of enforcement and protection for 1st Nations Unalienable inherent Rights-or any NEB approval without 1st Nations full consent is unjust, and inherently unactionable.

I stand in solidarity with the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth & Kwak’wakawakw of Vancouver Island & the lands surrounding the Salish Sea. I do not recognize foreign First Nations or others as having treaty violating authority over the people whose territories these are. In accordance with the United Nations, Canadian law, and basic human moral decency I will protect our water because I believe it is sacred.

Trudeau was NOT put in power to poison our air, water, land. His actions are as severe as Trumps who also only cares about the almighty dollar, not citizens to the point of both risking their own re-election. Actions speaks volumes and both Trudeau & Trump actions, prove their own unstable, greedy, DANGEROUS MINDS!!

Governments are NOT put in power to RISK IT’S CITIZENS, WILDLIFE OR THE EARTH!!! Their job is to protect citizens and their environment, right to live healthy, breath clean air, drink clean water. When a Government is so hell bent on a deadly issue to the point of NEVER BEING RE-ELECTED, this speaks volumes as to their lack of stability on EVERY LEVEL!!