Skip to content

LNG would not have been good for B.C.

Nothing to me symbolized the petro-thuggishness than the proposed Lelu Island gas plant

Editor, The Times:

George Monbiot once said of Canada, “It’s an extraordinary thing … to watch Canada, this highly sophisticated, liberal, outward-looking nation, turning into a thuggish petro-state.”

This was when then-Prime Minister Stephen Harper had declared that Canada was to become an energy superpower, especially in regards to oil and gas. Certain moves by Saudi Arabia – increased production, etc. - pricked that balloon in a hurry.

But then there was always liquified natural gas (LNG), Christy Clark’s great fantasy for B.C.’s prosperity. However, there was overproduction right from the start. China’s demands can be more easily filled by pipelines from Russia, which being built or already completed.

LNG would also require much hydraulic fracturing (fracking), which has resulted in some groundwater being polluted beyond usability. You can light the stuff on fire!

Nothing to me symbolized the petro-thuggishness of Canada and more especially B.C. than the proposed Lelu Island gas plant.

There were several other better locations but no, plunk it right down in the middle of a salmon estuary.

In many ways this willingness to walk all over our own environmental rules and put the salmon stocks in danger proves how “open for business” we are.

This project should never have been given the go-ahead in the first place.

Like Dracula rising from the crypt, this project could come back to haunt us again.

But for now, it’s gone. Good riddance.

Dennis Peacock

Clearwater, B.C.