Mr. Black does well to raise the red flag in his op-ed of April 23: Bitumen spill could destroy our coastline.
His remedy is to build a refinery at Kitimat and build a pipeline to it from Alberta. In his next op-ed I ask him to address the question of a bitumen spill overland.
But it seems to me there is an even better answer. It is to build the refinery or refineries in Alberta and ship the safer gasoline, kerosene and diesel fuel by rail, truck and pipeline to wherever they are needed. Or perhaps Mr. Black is
thinking narrowly only of employment in British
Columbia. I suggest it is a national issue.
Jack E.G. Dixon
Saanich
Black cash could subsidize other energy
If David Black is prepared to help fund a refinery, let him do it at the source of the bitumen in Alberta to prevent the need for pipelines across B.C. The gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel could then be used in Canada so we do not have to import it.
Alternatively, Mr. Black could use his great wealth to subsidize the many forms of alternate energy which we need to transition into, which would employ many British Columbians for generations.
The potential for geothermal, tidal and wave-action, wind and solar forms of energy production can be used to allow the world to get off its dependence on globally-damaging petrochemical products.
Carolyn Herbert
Saanich