PIPELINE PROTEST IN WATERLOO TODAY

Lasr Friday's Waterloo Region Record carried this story "Conduct pipeline review, activists demand". The day before there was also an article titled "Enridge has new plans for 40-year-old pipeline".

Apparently here in Waterloo Region we have been unknowingly blessed with an underground pipeline, including under the Grand River for the last fourty years. The problem seems to be the latest plans by Enbridge Pipelines will see a reversal in direction, larger volumes and a possible change to a more corrosive, toxic version of the current light crude being pumped. Instead of imported oil being pumped from east to west (Sarnia) the Line 9 pipeline as it is known will be part of pumping Alberta crude oil from west to east, namely through Quebec to the Maritmes.

As I understand the protest planned for 7 pm. today at Waterloo Town Square, it will be for the purpose of demanding a review of Enbridge's plans. This review should be done by our Ontario Ministry of the Environment according to local activists, similar to one planned by the Quebec Ministry of the Environment.

Some of you may recall that Enbridge do not have a sterling reputation in regards to pipeline maintenance as evidenced by the disaster in the Kalamazoo River in Michigan, two years ago.

While our very own Ontario M.O.E. have a deservedly bad reputaion themselves, nevertheless you'd think as a matter of control and authority that they would at least want to go through the motions of looking at Enbridge's plans. Then they can rubberstamp them as they do so many others but at least the public will become a little more informed as to the hazards we are put under for the financial benefit of others. What the heck maybe there are some legitimate economic or structural reasons for this change that could also be explained to us. Being kept in the dark may be more convenient for our authorities but it breeds rampant distrust and contempt for those very same authorities.