TERRACE CITY council members might just be surprised, if given the opportunity via a referendum, to discover how many people in the city support Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline plan.
It’s something to consider as city council is once again about to twist itself into knots to figure out where it stands on the issue.
Right now, officially, that stance is neutral. It might upset those who oppose the pipeline, those who support it or those who at least want to wait until the ongoing project review is finished. But, politically, it’s a fairly safe if somewhat mushy approach.
On Feb. 13 councillor James Cordeiro wants to change that neutral to have council oppose the project. He reasons that a majority of those elected last fall oppose the pipeline and that voters knew this so their votes validate council now adopting a ‘no’ position.
The challenge is that there is no test to Mr. Cordeiro’s theory unless by referendum and the chances of that happening are non existent.
And in any event, Mr. Cordeiro’s motion is to endorse two motions – one opposing a pipeline and the other opposing tanker traffic along the north coast – passed by the Union of BC Municipalities in 2010. Yes, you read that right. In 2010.
If council does wish to dip its toe into the Enbridge debate once again then it should have the courage of convictions and debate a motion of its own making.