Industry Minister James Moore who represents the Port Moody-Westwood-Port Coquitlam riding engaged in blatantly false fear mongering last week. He threatened a Lac Megantic disaster if we dont accept Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. In order to springboard from a disgusting reliance on a horrific tragedy to reach his ridiculous conclusion, he had to make stuff up.
These are desperate tactics from someone who as an elected Member of Parliament and Minister of the Crown should know better. He said, The people of Lac Mégantic wished they had pipelines instead of rail. If Mr. Moore and his Tory government colleagues had done their job, Lac Megantic would not have happened.
Instead of acting responsibly, Mr. Moore follows up his toxic logic with a distasteful chaser. Its very dangerous for the Lower Mainland … to have the massive spike in rail transfer of dangerous goods, he said. Moore is reported to have pointed to the huge rail yard in the heart of Port Coquitlam claiming an increasing number of trains are arriving there carrying diluted bitumen crude that has no other way to get to foreign markets.
Thats just not true. There are no facilities on the west coast to transfer crude oil from tank cars to marine shipping vessels. CP spokesperson Jeremy Berry confirmed, CP does not ship oil along its line to Vancouver for export.
Mark Hallman, CNs director of communications and public affairs explained by email that, CN has never transported crude oil or diluted bitumen to any British Columbia port or terminal for export via ocean-going vessel, and has no plans to do so.
As for the so-called massive spike in rail transfer of dangerous goods there is neither a massive transfer or a spike. Transport Canada figures of about 5,000 barrels a day relied on by Mr. Moore date back to 2013. CP confirms that, 2014 numbers are lower than 2013. It is interesting that Mr. Moore would not use recent figuresmaybe because they dont support his false narrative.
Both the Vancouver Sun and Financial Post printed the grossly misleading story (same article different title).
Mr. Moore is quoted as following up his falsehood about a massive spike in rail transfer with The people of Port Coquitlam and Burnaby and New Westminster, with dangerous goods going on those rail lines, should be concerned about that.
If Mr. Moore is concerned about rail transport, he should do everything he can to stop crude transport until its safe, not blackmail Canadians with incineration if we dont accept pipeline projects.
The truth is it is the Harper governments unrelenting willingness to cheerlead on behalf of Albertas tar sands that is putting us at risk and failing the Canadian economyincluding the economic health of our fossil fuel industry.
The Chevron refinery in Burnaby imports a small amount of crude by rail. Chevron began rail-to-truck-to-refinery deliveries in May 2012 and rail-to-refinery deliveries in April 2013 because Chevron couldnt get enough space on the existing Trans Mountain pipelineexports took priority over domestic needs.
Crowding out domestic demand is why the relatively small volumes of crude by rail to BC have increased since 2011, not because diluted bitumen is seeking foreign markets. But even if Chevron could export all the crude oil it can now receive by rail, it would take more than two months for them to fill an oil tanker. Mr. Moores heavy oil exports to foreign markets spin doesnt even make business sense.
Our safety is not threatened by rail transport of heavy oil. Our safety is threatened by the Federal Governments de-regulation of transport safety. Since 2010 marine safety budgets have been slashed 28% and rail and aviation by more than 20%. Had Transport Canada done its job regulating the rail industry Lac Megantic would not have happened.
Our safety is also threatened by the Harper governments unwillingness to ensure Canadian energy self sufficiency. The oil transported to Lac Megantic on that fateful night in July 2013 was Bakken crudea highly flammable light oil imported from New Town, North Dakota destined for the Irving refinery in New Brunswick. More than 40% of the crude oil used in eastern Canada is imported. The public policy answer is to ensure more bitumen is upgraded in Albertawhat Harper promised would happen in 2008 before foreign multinational interests made him change his mindnot build more pipelines.
Oil sands bitumen is dense like tar or wet cement. It requires imported condensate as diluent to move it through a pipeline. If more bitumen were upgraded in Alberta instead of transported as diluted bitumen for upgrading in other countries we would have plenty of pipeline space.
Barrel for barrel, diluted bitumen requires twice as much pipeline capacity as upgraded bitumen. You need dedicated condensate import pipelines, like Enbridges Southern Lights and Kinder Morgans Cochin, to bring condensate in, and then you need 30% of the heavy oil pipeline export capacity to re-export condensate as diluent in bitumen. Whats more, diluted bitumen moves 20% slower than light or synthetic crude oil.
Transporting diluted bitumen, even by pipeline, unnecessarily exposes Canadians to a condensate spill. Condensate becomes airborne when released. Its highly toxic and causes severe respiratory damage. Rail transport of heavy oil requires little or no condensate because oil in rail cars is stationarythe cars move, not the heavy oil.
Mr. Moore was elected to protect his constituents interests, not mislead them with erroneous statements and distastefully false arguments. Instead of busying himself inventing boogie men as a front for big oil he should protect the safety and business interests of Canadianswhile he still has time.
Robyn Allan is an economist, former president and CEO of the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia and qualified expert intervenor in the NEB Trans Mountain Expansion Project Hearings.