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Kitimat refinery proposal a good idea

Re: Oil refinery proposed for Kitimat (News, Aug. 22)

Re: Oil refinery proposed for Kitimat (News, Aug. 22)

Media mogul and owner of the Saanich News David Black has my support for his proposal to build a $13-billion oil refinery near Kitimat to process heavy oil from the Enbridge pipeline.

Why should we let the Asian countries buy our Canadian crude oil and refine it for their markets when we could add value by refining it here in B.C. and shipping them the finished product?

This is a strategy that would create local jobs for our own citizens and address the environmental concerns around oil tankers travelling in B.C.’s coastal waters.

And as long as Enbridge meets the conditions and standards set out by the premier, moving heavy oil from Alberta through a pipeline would be a heck of a lot better than shipping it by rail or truck.

Shipping gasoline, jet fuel and other refined oil products by tanker is just as practical as shipping crude oil and lot safer from an environmental standpoint.

There’s a lot we could do here in B.C. with a piece of the oil industry pie.

Roop Virk

Chilliwack