If Christy Clark is concerned about the risks the Northern Gateway pipeline poses to the B.C. coast, she should distance herself from a Liberal MLA who has suggested the province revisit offshore oil drilling, said NDP environment critic Rob Fleming.
Fleming called on the B.C. premier to distance herself from suggestions made by Liberal MLA John Rustad on revisiting offshore oil exploration – something that was soundly rejected nearly a decade ago.
Rustad, the MLA for Nechako Lakes and parliamentary secretary for Forests, Lands and Natural Resources, used his Facebook page recently to suggest that B.C. reconsider offshore oil exploration.
"With the debate raging around pipelines, I'm sure there isn't much appetite for offshore oil and gas," he wrote. "However, if B.C. is ever going to become debt free, one day this is going to have to happen."
Fleming said in a press release Monday, "Premier Clark is in meetings in Alberta today looking for a chunk of the profits from the potentially devastating Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, while is pushing the idea of re-opening the offshore oil debate.
"The Liberals just don't seem to understand that B.C.'s environment is not for sale."
Clark was in Alberta Monday, where she spoke with Alberta Premier Alison Redford to reiterate B.C.'s stance on the Northern Gateway pipeline. B.C. has set five preconditions for supporting the project, which Clark has said does not provide enough benefits to outweigh the risks.
