andyt andyt:
Good points.
As I said, Mulcair could have phrased it better. But we both know what happens to nuanced arguments in the political sphere. I think he is playing divisive politics, can't say I blame him since Harper plays the same game. I think that's what's new here, that the NDP now has somebody willing to play hardball, same as the CPC.
Absolutely, we should sing hosannas to the oil sands. But we should also look at where we can ameliorate their negatives. I was reflexively for building the pipeline to Kitimat, until I thought about some of the negatives. At the very least, industry should be putting up a bond that would pay for any cleanup in a spill. But really, it seems we should be looking east, and that's only going to happen if we have a comprehensive energy and industrial strategy. And Harper certainly isn't leading that conversation, so Mulcair's comments are at least a start.
A pipeline going east is great idea provided they have the type of refining capacity to handle it.
To date I haven't heard any murmurs about such a proposal though, at least not in regards of a full on large diameter pipeline being built. I've heard Enbride talking about utilizing existing lines to ship oil from the Bakken play out east but that's about it. Most of the talk has centered around Enbridge’s Line 9, they are proposing to reverse the flow on that to take product from Sarina to Montreal. Line 9 incidentally was built back during the NEP with the intent of shipping oil from Alberta out east, go figure.
I also know that with the current infrastructure some of the bitumen shipped down to the states ends back up in the east after refining but I'd have to look at my maps to see what kind of capacity those systems are running at and how they all work.
It is kind of odd though that we haven't heard anything from Ottawa on the subject of more oil going out east though.
One thing I will say however is that even if that is done the market in eastern Canada still won't be a replacement for the potential that the Asian markets hold. Sooner or later lines will have to built out to the west coast. One positive thing with shipping bitumen to those markets is that we're not hog tied on the pricing of that product the way we are with NAFTA. There is a potential to increase the royalties we receive from exports to Asia. I can't say however if that will be done, I can only say it may be possible.
If shipping were to take place though I full on agree with you on everything you have said about measures being taken to protect the coast. If anything we could use the Valdez as a "what not to do" guide.