Enbridge boasts its list of supporters
"The Northern Gateway project is a major economic win for B.C. and for Canada," says BC Chamber of Commerce.
The day after the Harper government ruled in favour of the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline, stirring a political storm from Vancouver to Parliament Hill, the ordinarily media shy Enbridge issued its own statement Wednesday with a list of the pipeline's boosters.
It includes right-of-center politicians past and present, industry titans, and business association leaders.
Not surprisingly, Dave Hancock - the Premier of Alberta - in the heart of the oil sands - supports Northern Gateway, as does the province's front-running Premier-wannabe, Jim Prentice.
Prentice was a former Harper cabinet minister, and more recently a paid Enbridge envoy to First Nations in B.C.
The CEO of the B.C. Chamber of Commerce added:
"The Northern Gateway project is a major economic win for B.C. and for Canada," said John Winter in the statement.
"We applaud the federal government for making the right decision for our province and our country."
Also notable - the co-founder and former leader of Greenpeace, Dr. Patrick Moore, wrote:
"As a life-long environmentalist, I can say with some confidence that projects such as Northern Gateway, properly constructed and properly maintained, make sense because they recognize the reality of today's energy requirements."
Aboriginal leaders, environmental groups, and an environmental law non-profit have pledged to stop the pipeline in the courts, but also with a hoped for "citizens initiative" vote in September -- a chance for B.C. citizens to force the legislature to consider a law banning the project.
So far, Premier Christy Clark has said the project does not meet her five conditions, including Aboriginal engagement, oil spill response, and a sharing of the revenues commensurate with the eco-risks to B.C.
Enbridge's list of supporters also included:
John Manley, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives, and former Liberal cabinet minister
Stockwell Day - former Harper government Treasury Board President, and past leader of the Canadian Alliance Party, which merged with the Reform Party, to later become the Conservative Party of Canada.
Mike Harris, former Progressive Conservative Premier of Ontario, and businessman
Jayson Myers, Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters' president and CEO
Bruce Dumont, President, Métis Nation BC
Manley McLachlan, President, British Columbia Construction Association
Captain Stephen Brown, President, Chamber of Shipping
James Cumming, President & CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce
Conrad Winkler, President & CEO, EVRAZ North America
Ron Watkins, President, Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA)
Greg Stringham, Vice President, Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers
Lionel Railton, acting Canadian Regional Director, International Union of Operating Engineers
Greg Harris, Sub-Regional Manager, Labourers' International Union of North America
Neil Lane, Executive Director of the Pipeline Contractors Association of Canada
Bob Blakely, Chief Operating Officer, Canada's Building Trades Unions (CBTU)
Paul de Jong, President, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA)
