October 27, 2009
Rustad Celebrates Enbridge Northern Gateway Project, Challenges NDP to Reconsider Position

VICTORIA - Nechako Lakes MLA John Rustad spoke yesterday in the BC Legislature about the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project that will construct a new oil pipeline and provide Northern BC with 200 long-term jobs as well as 4,000 construction jobs and even more indirect employment opportunities.

 “Over the long term, Enbridge is working on a benefits package that will likely include a community trust, significant skills training, an environmental package, marine operations and response and the potential for first nations to participate in equity and sole-sourcing employment opportunities — not to mention the millions that will be paid in local taxes to help communities fund such needed projects,” said Rustad.

A leading expert in pipeline construction and operation, Enbridge Inc. operates the world’s longest and most advanced petroleum and liquids pipeline system. Its pipeline systems have operated for over 60 years and now comprise approximately 13,500 kilometres of pipeline, delivering more than two million barrels of petroleum a day and supplying natural gas to more than 1.8 million customers.

“Enbridge is also committed to utilizing local employment wherever possible. For companies like Tahtsa Timber, Gulbransen Logging, KDL Group and many others, this means jobs for forestry workers, First Nations and youth,” said Rustad.

Even the NDP’s North Coast MLA Gary Coons has previously stated that: “I think it's going to be great…for the whole region, for the whole northwest corridor."

But last week in the Legislature, Coons changed his tune and attacked the Enbridge Project declaring his opposition to a project that is “an illogical push” for British Columbia.

This was preceded last month by Saanich South NDP MLA Lana Popham who stated, “By entertaining the northern gateway pipeline project, we are compromising our morals...”

“Is Mr. Coons, Ms. Popham and their NDP leader Carole James willing to visit Northern communities hit hard by the global recession and tell unemployed Northerners and their families that the thousands of jobs created by this project are ‘an illogical push’ and ‘compromising our morals’?” asks Rustad.

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