Are we a country or aren’t we?
THE FUNDAMENTAL QUESTION of the Trans Mountain debate doesn’t really have anything to do with how the pipeline expansion will impact the environment.
Almost all environmental impacts are hypothetical – they may or may not happen, but aren’t assured.
The added pipeline capacity will surely result in some bitumen being diverted from diesel-spewing, derailment-prone rail transport to underground pipeline transport.
However, studies show crude oil transport by rail will increase markedly in the next 20 years anyway, even with the new pipeline capacity.