The newly re-created Eco/Social Justice group of the North Vancouver Regional Council (all 5 Anglican churches and Gloria Dei Evangelical Lutheran) recently embarked on the issue of Pipelines and Tankers.

After the break, Ben West illustrated his remarks about the impact and extent of oil spills, tanker groundings and pipeline failures, and the significant difference between shipping crude oil and the diluted bitumen (dil-bit) that is proposed for the Northern Gateway project from Alberta to Kitimat. His presentation concluded with suggestions about potential changes to transportation systems, such as the reintroduction of the interurban light rail system from Vancouver to the Fraser Valley to reduce car traffic and our dependence on oil.

statements being made. Suggestions were also made about the need to rethink the shipping of bitumen and building more refining capacity in Alberta for Canada’s own needs.

As the session wrapped up, discussions focused on what individuals can do, and what kind of follow up sessions are being planned including:

• Showing of the film “On the Line” by Frank Wolf – his 2010 journey by bike, on foot, raft and kayak from the Alberta Tar Sands along the route of the proposed pipeline to the tanker terminal at Kitimat.

• A session with Economist Robyn Allan who has written commentary about the failure of the governments to act in the best interests of the province and the country.