Canadian Federal Budget - Conservative Style

[KirkP]

Originally Posted by Johnny LaRue

Wrong again. Cummins could be a very good man for all I know. They will be getting my vote either way.

What are you taking issue with in my post? Cummins is nothing more than a Reform Party backbencher who never advanced any legislation or did anything of note in nearly two decades of being an elected representative.

He's a hard-right social conservative who is cultivating support in rural parts of the province with no hope of having any influence, but if you'd prefer the province be run out of Chilliwack or Vernon, he's definitely your guy.

Originally Posted by Rocko604

I would be in favour of it if we were refining it ourselves and created more permanent jobs. Can't see the benefit of it to BCers at all.

It's a project that is beneficial for Alberta, China and nobody else. I'm disgusted that it's gotten this far already, it should have been shot down well before we got to this point.

Unfortunately, when you've got a Premier who thinks moving further to the right is what will keep her in power, she'll try anything to appease out-of-province business interests despite the lack of benefit here.

[buddahsmoka1]

Hey man, what you got against Vernon?

[The Moose]

Originally Posted by KJP

It's a project that is beneficial for Alberta, China and nobody else. I'm disgusted that it's gotten this far already, it should have been shot down well before we got to this point.

Doesn't BC get some sort of "rent" for the pipeline passing on its territory ? But even if it is as you say, IF (and that's a huge IF) it is demonstrated with a very high degree of confidence that the pipeline is environmentally safe, what's wrong with some pan-Canadian good will and collaboration? I am for the pipeline provided it goes through a thorough environmental review and approval process. I am probably biased and self-interested as a resident of Alberta, but I think there are marginal benefits for BC residents and all Canadians as well (again, provided all measures are in place to prevent an ecological disaster).

Who has the last word in the end? The feds or the BC provincial government? I don't see an NDP government in BC ever approving the pipeline.

[KirkP]

Originally Posted by buddahsmoka1

Hey man, what you got against Vernon?

I picked it at random. IIRC one of the nutbar blogging tories lives in Vernon.

Originally Posted by The Moose

Doesn't BC get some sort of "rent" for the pipeline passing on its territory ? But even if it is as you say, IF (and that's a huge IF) it is demonstrated with a very high degree of confidence that the pipeline is environmentally safe, what's wrong with some pan-Canadian good will and collaboration? I am for the pipeline provided it goes through a thorough environmental review and approval process. I am probably biased and self-interested as a resident of Alberta, but I think there are marginal benefits for BC residents and all Canadians as well (again, provided all measures are in place to prevent an ecological disaster).

Who has the last word in the end? The feds or the BC provincial government? I don't see an NDP government in BC ever approving the pipeline.

Nearly all the benefit for the pipeline goes to places that aren't BC. The promise of long-term jobs is a mirage. The pipeline travels over very environmentally-sensitive areas and combined with Enbridge's crappy record keeping oil out of water makes it a complete non-starter for me.

If they want to build a pipeline somewhere else that will get all the oil China needs to China, have at it. Just don't build it on ecologically-sensitive areas in my province when the tar sands and Alberta are getting the benefit whilst undertaking none of the risk.

[CF]

Originally Posted by KJP

What are you taking issue with in my post? Cummins is nothing more than a Reform Party backbencher who never advanced any legislation or did anything of note in nearly two decades of being an elected representative.

He's a hard-right social conservative who is cultivating support in rural parts of the province with no hope of having any influence, but if you'd prefer the province be run out of Chilliwack or Vernon, he's definitely your guy.

It's a project that is beneficial for Alberta, China and nobody else. I'm disgusted that it's gotten this far already, it should have been shot down well before we got to this point.

Unfortunately, when you've got a Premier who thinks moving further to the right is what will keep her in power, she'll try anything to appease out-of-province business interests despite the lack of benefit here.

I don't see what the problem is with Christy Clark waiting for the environmental review to wrap up before taking a formal position on the pipeline. In fact, that seems like the logical thing to do.

Personally, I would do the same thing. If the environmental risks/impacts are at a level to possibly justify building the pipeline, then she should go to Alberta and tell them we will build the pipeline, but only if BC gets a significant portion of Alberta's royalties they earn from it. Alberta would throw a fit and possibly tell us to screw off, but that's the only way the project makes sense for BC.

[The Moose]

Canadian budget hits basic science

A good overview on how scientific research in Canada is affected by 2012 budget.

[Sharpshooter1]

Originally Posted by The Moose

Canadian budget hits basic science

A good overview on how scientific research in Canada is affected by 2012 budget.

The 'Cons'ervative gov't has been anti-science from the get go. I haven't seen this much defunding and muzzling of our gov't scientists and agencies in my entire life.

The Tories will next try to pass Bill C-6000.....to reflect their ideological belief in how old the earth really is.