North Island Gazette, December 12, 2013 by Black Press Media Group

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Thursday, December 12, 2013

COMMENTARY

Comments? Box 458, Port Hardy, B.C. V0N 2P0 250-949-6225 Fax 250-949-7655 or email us at editor@northislandgazette.com

Prepare to relax — finally Sometimes, this season of peace and giving feels more like a season of fast-paced grinding. In addition to what can be a frenzy of shopping — and don’t even get us started on “Black Friday” — it seems everybody is squeezing in a last-ditch event, activity or performance in the weeks leading up to Christmas day. Between the craft fairs, toy drives, holiday plays, dance recitals, workplace parties and various benefits, it can be hard for families to keep up with the seasonal calendar. But while a cynic can only Grinch and bear it, most of us know there is a string of lights at the end of the tunnel. Over the next two weeks, the pace of activity should gradually slow. Scattered families should coalesce. Acquiring and giving goodies should transition into sharing of what our loved ones really want: ourselves. In the larger scheme of things, the commerce of the holiday season is a big driver for the local economy. And it benefits individual crafters and artisans as well. We’re not going to bah-humbug a long-term benefit to our communities. Likewise, the entertainment selections are all offered with the best of intentions and the most enthusiastic participation — particularly from the kids. Finally, we especially appreciate the North Island’s uncanny ability to pull through for the Gazette Hamper Fund, which helps their needy neighbours. But now, we implore you to give it a rest. As soon as possible. You’ve earned it.

We Asked You Question:

Do you have your Christmas Tree up?

Yes 33.3%

No 66.7%

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Ottawa puts on pipeline push VICTORIA – The federal government stepped up its sales pitch for new pipelines to the B.C. coast last week, as it prepares for the imminent release of the federal review panel’s report on the feasibility of the Enbridge Northern Gateway project. Transport Minister Lisa Raitt and Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver arrived in Vancouver to release an expert panel’s report on the current state of tanker safety on the West Coast. It was the first of two reports that tell the Stephen Harper government in blunt terms how steep a hill it must climb to enable energy exports to Asia. The panel was chaired by Gordon Houston, a former Prince Rupert harbourmaster and CEO of Port Metro Vancouver. Its report details the littlenoticed fact that coastal waters around Victoria and Vancouver are already congested with shipping traffic, including Alaska oil tank-

B.C. Views

Tom Fletcher

with

ers, and are at “very high risk” of an incident. Of course that “very high risk” should be seen in the B.C. context, where there has never been a serious oil spill at sea in a century of continuous petroleum shipping. The report calls for potential polluters to show they are prepared for a “worst case” discharge like the 1989 Exxon Valdez grounding in Alaska. It tells Ottawa the Canadian Coast Guard must be properly

The North Island Gazette is published Thursdays at Port Hardy, B.C. by Black Press Ltd. Canadian Publications Mail Agreement #391275. We acknowledge the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Canada Periodical Fund of the Department of Canadian Heritage.

Tiny birds are getting a big hand up from North Islanders, with both a pygmy owl and a hooded oriole getting comfort from locals.

Just as with our rural volunteer fire departments, the Port McNeill Search and Rescue Society is in need of more bodies.

funded to serve as incident command. Oliver recounted efforts made so far, including annual tanker inspections, increased aerial surveillance and marine markers. And he reminded his audience that Canada’s only energy export customer, the U.S., is about to surpass Saudi Arabia as the world’s largest petroleum producer. The second federal report was from Doug Eyford, a lawyer who has been meeting for months with aboriginal communities in northern B.C. and Alberta. He found, as Enbridge has reported, that many aboriginal communities are working with energy producers to get the economic activity they so desperately need. Eyford’s report is no whitewash either. It reminds Ottawa that B.C.’s unresolved aboriginal title and a general lack of trust of both the energy industry and the federal government A member of

This North Island Gazette is a member of the British Columbia Press Council, a self-regulatory body governing the province's newspaper industry. The council considers complaints from the public about the conduct of member newspapers. Directors oversee the mediation of complaints, with input from both the newspaper and the complaint holder. If talking with the editor or publisher does not resolve your complaint about coverage or story treatment, you may contact the B.C. Press Council. Your written concern, with documentation, should be sent to B.C. Press Council, 201 Selby St., Nanaimo, B.C. V9R 2R2. For information, phone 888-687-2213 or go to www.bcpresscouncil.org

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are key obstacles to the largest economic opportunity in the world today, the rise of Asia. Politics and protesters aside, the prosperous provinces in Canada today are Alberta, Saskatchewan and Newfoundland, based mainly on energy development. The rest are struggling. It’s a key moment in Canadian history. This is where we see if we can go beyond our status as a client state of the U.S. This year’s B.C. election, where pandering to urban protest backfired on the NDP, suggests a new seriousness in the public mood. More people understand today that our comfortable modern society with freeaccess health care is a fragile thing. We have it better than most of the world, for now. Tom Fletcher is B.C. legislature reporter and columnist for Black Press. tfletcher@blackpress.ca

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