Editor: Letter writer Gary Smith (The Times, Nov. 14) appears to make a salient argument against the Kinder Morgan project.
For the most part, his assertions are at best sheer speculation and short on facts. The Alberta Heritage fund currently has $16 billion in funds and since inception has returned over $34 billion to the province, with the focus being on health care and education.
The Kinder Morgan expansion, as I understand it, will use the existing right-of -way that includes the current line. His comment about the inevitability of an oil spill is not borne out by any facts. Again, it is speculation.
The original pipelines in B.C. were installed with the barest of public discussion or inputs. The current proposals are an opportunity for any community to investigate and participate, ensuring all fail safes are in place and working.
The harsh reality of the proposed oil and gas projects for B.C. is this. These projects will allow a very large work force to generate enough income to hopefully purchase homes, raise and educate a family and in some part ensure a financially sustainable future.
I have over 30 years experience working in the industry, suffered total financial ruin in the recession of the 1980s and worked myself back to financial security, working in Alberta and B.C.
Terry Brenan,
Aldergrove
