Oil in pipelines or oil in rail cars 鈥� British Columbians and all Canadians are staring at an unpleasant choice.
The pipeline leak in Kalamazoo, Mich., and the rail explosion that devastated Lac M茅gantic, Que., are the most vivid illustrations of how difficult a choice it is. While alternative energy sources are the grail, our present civilization is fuelled by oil. That oil must be moved.
British Columbians have been vocal in their opposition to the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline proposal, but delay or cancellation of that project will most likely mean more oil travelling our province in rail cars 鈥� DOT-111 rail cars like the ones that killed 47 people in Quebec.
Those cars, which make up the vast majority of the ones in use, don鈥檛 have enough protection.
The Canadian and U.S. transportation safety boards made a joint call this week for three key changes: tougher standards for DOT-111 cars, analysis of shipping routes to identify risks to the environment and communities, and better emergency response plans.
It is outrageous that the federal government is only now rushing to create emergency plans for crude.
Oil shipments by rail in sa国际传媒 have increased from 500 car loads in 2009 to 160,000 car loads in 2013. sa国际传媒 has also seen large increases, going from 50 car loads in 2011 to almost 1,200 just a year later.
The changes required are massive and expensive, but Lac M茅gantic and other explosive derailments show that changes must not be delayed.
