The existence of good regulation is of no value if it is not enforced.
In North America there have been two major oil spills in the last 50 years, although they do not appear to have left any permanent damage. Both occurred in the ocean, one off the coast of Alaska and the other in the Gulf of Mexico. Both occurred due to the failure to enforce regulations, as was also true of the recent Kalamazoo spill.
The two major spills cost the oil companies involved many billions and a loss of prestige. The American public did not punish their government for this failure. I do not believe the 91原创 public would be so forgiving.
This government will not be in power if and when the pipeline is operational. It will be up to future governments to see that regulations are enforced.
By the end of this decade, Canada will almost certainly be a major exporter and it will be our single biggest source of export income. Will we be satisfied to remain restricted to the American market or will we sell on a global basis, where prices are higher? It is hard to believe that every effort will not be made to expand to wherever the best market lies. How this will be accomplished isn't clear.
The only thing that can stop all this from happening is for the price of oil to drop to uneconomic levels for oilsands production. In the short run, this seems highly unlikely.
Brian F. Pearson
Sidney
