Clark and the BC Liberals have spent the last few days arguing that because NDP leader Adrian Dix is against the expansion of the Kinder Morgan oil pipeline in the port of Vancouver he is "anti-development" and "anti-business."
Broad sweeping attacks based on a singular position are the highest form of political attacks and are likely the reason so few people even care that there is an election underway at all. I have seen high-school president races with more class.
But if that is the way it is going to be, then I guess that leaves Christy Clark and the BC Liberals, who support more oil tankers, expansion of tar sands development and higher risks of spills on our coastline clearly in the pro-destruction camp.
Like the messy Exxon oil spill still being mopped up in an Arkansas suburb, it was only a few years ago that we saw a similar spill in Burnaby, from the same Kinder Morgan pipeline. Here's a video reminder of that gong show:
A rupture like this is actually the least of our worries when it comes to the expansion of the Kinder Morgan oil pipeline. An expansion in the capacity of oil pumped to our coast, means more massive oil tankers in our waters and right into Burrard inlet. More tankers, and more oil means more risk of a spill.
According to Tourism Vancouver, in 2011 visitors to our city spent an estimated $92 million, and "cruise passengers increased by 15 per cent over 2010. Between May and October 2011, Port Metro Vancouver welcomed 663,425 passengers on 27 different vessels over 199 cruise ship calls."
While Vancouver has many amazing attractions, restaurants and cultural centers, it is the ocean and all the nature around that bring people from all over the world to visit our city. Quite frankly, if it wasn't for the amazing oceanscapes and natural beauty, Vancouver would be nothing more than a small version of... wait for it... Toronto.
In fact, if Clark ends up supporting the Kinder Morgan pipeline, she is not only pro-destruction, she is arguably exactly what she is accusing her opponent Adrian Dix of being. By supporting the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, Christy Clark and the BC Liberals would be putting at risk the very thing that makes our city unique and a world class tourist destination.
Supporting more oil tankers in the waters of British Columbia is not only pro-destruction, it is anti-business.