PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Distribution

British Columbians value the environment and First Nations relations

May 2, 2012 Victoria, BC –– The ROBBINS Sce Research (1998) – Green Party of BC Poll released today on the Kinder Morgan Pipeline and Aboriginal Legal Rights finds a ‘clear majority of British Columbians living in the lower mainland’ are concerned about the environmental impacts associated with the potential for ‘pipeline bursts’ and ‘Tanker leaks.’ As well, almost 75% support ‘aboriginal groups legal right to oppose the increase in Kinder Morgan pipeline capacity and resulting increase in tanker traffic in Burrard Inlet and down BC’s coastal waters.’

“There is a myth that has been perpetrated by the Federal Conservatives and the BC Liberals and some of the corporations proposing expanded resource development that concerns for jobs and the economy trump environmental interest,” said Jane Sterk, leader of the Green Party of BC. “This public opinion poll reinforces what Greens know to be true, that people care deeply about how decisions impact the environment.”

In this poll, only 20% of the people contacted think the potential for jobs and economic gain is worth the risk. Fully 52% have concerns about what crude oil spills might do to the land and ocean if the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion is approved and another 24% would prefer local refining and use.

“That amounts to 75% saying NO to the proposal to triple the pipeline capacity and to allow 400 Super Tankers to ply Burrard Inlet and BC’s coast with spills-waiting-to-happen crude oil,” continued Sterk. “Those who support refining and using the oil locally for local benefit are on the right track and doing so would create more long term jobs in the region than simply being a conduit for shipping oil to Asia.

“The Green Party takes seriously the need to transition away from fossil fuels as quickly as possible. The primary reason we oppose both the expansion of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline and the building of the Enbridge Pipeline is the urgent need to deal with climate change. Greens also believe we must use the fossil fuel resources we have to support that transition. It is sheer insanity to expand the extraction of fossil fuels simply to ship those resources to Asia for short-term profit to these mega corporations.

“At best, we will get 20 years of exports and by then we will be 50 years behind where we need to be to address climate change. Scientists are saying we need to stabilize emissions by 2015. We ought to be working to help China and the rest of Asia choose a renewable path not to follow in our destructive ways. By increasing our exports of these and other fossil fuels, we put ourselves and the planet at risk.

“Greens were heartened to see the strong support for First Nations in the results of this poll. The data shows that the people of BC are ahead of the governments and the courts. People are saying they support the ‘legal right to oppose the pipeline expansion’ for the aboriginal band whose territory covers Burrard Inlet and the delivery terminal for Alberta crude. This goes beyond the ‘duty to consult’ and implies that as British Columbians, we think we need the consent of First Nations for projects like this.

“BC Greens believe real action on climate change, honouring of indigenous rights and a new distributed economy based in local self-sufficiency offer British Columbians the only real option for change.  This poll suggests we are right in our assessment,” concluded Sterk.

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