Inside
◆ TIMBER SUPPLY ‘OPTIMISTIC’ P. 3 ◆ EDITORIAL P. 6
◆ NECHAKO VALLEY EXHIBITION P. 9-11 ◆ REDISCOVER VANDERHOOF P. 12-14
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Wednesday, August 22, 2012
David Black changes Northern Gateway debate Ruth Lloyd Caledonia Courier Black Press Media Group owner and chair David Black announced plans to construct a $13 billion oil refinery near Kitimat, B.C.. The announcement is debatechanging for the proposed Northern Gateway Project Black Press Photo because it directly impacts the environ- Media mogul David Black mental impacts of announces plans to build a offshore tankers and refinery in Kitimat, B.C. greatly increases the profit share to B.C. and Canada as a whole from the tar sands resource. Black’s proposal for the “greenest and cleanest” refinery would potentially create 6,000 direct jobs during construction of the project and 3,000 direct jobs during operation of the refinery. Black said his motivation for the proposal has to do with the next generation, and creating jobs for the future, for young workers and to replace jobs being lost in the contracting forest industry. “I think this is the right thing to do for the province, I think it’s nation-building,” said Black. While the generation previous to his left a legacy of opportunity and good jobs for his generation, Black said he was not sure his generation had done the same for the next generation, with huge government deficits, a lack of job opportunities, and depleted fisheries and forest sectors. “It’s time we looked after the next generation a little bit,” he said. But Black was also quick to clarify he does not want to see Northern Gateway go ahead at all costs so his project can move forward. “If we can’t assure ourselves that any leaks would be immaterial … then we shouldn’t proceed,” he said, saying it has been “unnerving” to see the devastation in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where a spill seriously impacted the river. However, he said the motivation for Enbridge to do better is twofold, both ethical and financial.
Future milk maid
Never too early to start - Zoey Alderson learning how to milk a cow during the 46th Annual Nechako Valley Exhibition. See more photos on pages 9 to 11. Photo by Helen Alderson
“Nobody can afford to have another Kalamazoo,” said Black, who has met with Enbridge officials and believes they are sincerely embarrassed by the incidents in Kalamazoo, the leak north of Edmonton and the most recent spill in Wisconsin. “I think we can trust them to do the best job possible,” he said. The refinery he has proposed would be the first high end one in North Amer-
ica in about 35 years and would use technology he thinks could make it the cleanest one for decades to come. The proposal would reduce tanker traffic by one third and maintain lower fuel prices for Canadians instead of having them buy back refined oil from China. The proposal has already been met with stiff criticism, as some economists
doubt the project is feasible, however, Black said he had contracted two independent consultants to establish the economic viability of a refinery in Canada. “The industry doesn’t want to do it because it’s not the most profitable end of their business,” he said, but this doesn’t mean it is not at all profitable. Continued on Page 3
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