BOWDEN — Municipal politicians in B.C. and elsewhere are not as opposed to pipelines as the news media suggest, according to town councillor Paul Webb.
Webb made that comment during a July 8 Bowden town council meeting, after having come back from a vacation which included attendance at the Federation of Canadian Muncipalities (FCM) convention in Quebec City earlier this spring. Bowden mayor Robb Stuart also attended that convention.
"The discussions were phenomenal. It really was an honest way to find out what's in the minds of the people who the media said are so opposed to pipelines," Webb said.
"(They said) 'we're not actually opposed to the pipeline. We're just opposed to the form of carbon coming out the other end that's so difficult to clean — if it spills,'" he said.
"Over and over I heard, 'we don't understand' — 'we' being the B.C. folks, 'why don't (they) refine the product in Alberta, make the money from refining, and ship it to us. We have no problem with the refined product, only the unrefined product.'
"All I'm telling you is the consensus I heard was yes, there are concerns, but there wasn't this militant opposition that the media wants to portray. It doesn't exist," he added.
"Some people you could talk to and some you couldn't," Stuart said. "One, he was just adamant that the whole Fort Mac should be shut down, (that) it's an environmental disaster. Shouldn't even exist."
Webb and Stuart were asked by their fellow councillors if they believed it was worth the expense to send councillors to FCM (which will be in Toronto next spring).
"The value is in networking," Webb said.
Stuart agreed with that statement.
"It was good to meet with the people who are in our position in different parts of the country in similar, but not identical circumstances," Webb said.
However, both noted many delegates didn't even attend the various sessions and seminars offered. They could instead be seen on various tours of Quebec City and area — still wearing their FCM identification.
If councillors do go next year, Stuart said it would be worth trying to book earlier to get a better deal.
