Editor:

Lakes District Clean Waters Coalition is disappointed but not surprised by the decision of the National Energy Board鈥檚 Joint Review Panel (FRP) to approve Enbridge鈥檚 Northern Gateway pipelines project.

We are disappointed that the review process has excluded relevant discussion of the tar sands, cumulative impacts of industrial development, climate change, moral and ethical rights of other species and future generations, as well as constitutional obligations to First Nations. This report does not represent the interest of the people most at risk from the proposed project, who have not been heard or listened to.

We are not surprised. The federal government鈥檚 declaration before the panel began its work that the project is considered to be (economically speaking) 鈥渋n the public interest鈥� almost precludes any other conclusion.

In financial and employment terms, Enbridge estimates B.C.鈥檚 tax income for the lifetime of the proposed project to be $1.2 billion. Stats released by the Clark government show that B.C.鈥檚 actual tax income in 2011 from tourism alone was $1.13 billion. In that same year, there were 18,034 tourism-related businesses in operation in BC, employing 126,700 people.

What would one accident do to just this sector alone? [http://www.destinationbc.ca/cmspages/getfile.aspx?guid=b3e25947-b337-4381-b29d-936df7db03b1]

Lakes District Clean Waters Coalition is grateful that the JRP process, however dysfunctional, has given us opportunity to acknowledge that we are privileged to live here by the grace, generosity, and patience of the Wet鈥檚uwet鈥檈n and Nedut'en Peoples.

Lakes District Clean Waters Coalition stands with them and others who share this and neighbouring regions, to stop this calamitous project.

We are assessing options with other groups, locally and across the province, to determine how best to show the governments the breadth and depth of opposition to these pipelines and tankers in BC.

John G Phair on behalf of the Lakes District Clean Waters Coalition