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Campbell's environment legacy lingers like skunk odor

The Editor, Have you ever passed by a place where a skunk has had an encounter? You will then know what I mean, all the participants are missing, but there is no denial that something untoward has happened.

The Editor,

Have you ever passed by a place where a skunk has had an encounter? You will then know what I mean, all the participants are missing, but there is no denial that something untoward has happened.

This is the thought that came to mind when I read of the agreement signed by our provincial government under Gordon Campbell on June 21, 2010.

In it, he relinquished the province's right to our own environmental assessment process for major resource projects (like Kinder Morgan and Northern Gateway).

Campbell signed this agreement and in its place accepted the federal National Energy Board (NEB) findings as an equivalent.

This is where the stink lingers. The federal government has decided to change the process, and instead of accepting the NEB assessment, it will be able to override any decision made by the board.

Thus, we have the "Harperites" able, as they have stated they will, to push the above mentioned pipelines through against any opposition from our province.

There is, however, under this agreement, a clause which allows the province to terminate the agreement within 30 days of written notice.

Now, why have the B.C. Liberals not done so?

It has become evident that Harper et al., intend to stuff these pipelines down our throat with no regard to the damage these and the oil tankers will cause to the province.

I guess Premier Christy Clark and her bunch seem to think the Feds will play fair. Wake up Clark, and file the 30-day notice now, don't wait until we have good ol' Alberta bitumen coming out of our rivers and soiling our part of the Pacific!

But then again, why would I expect any logic to come out of Victoria?

After all, look what good old Campbell got out of his co-operation - a well-paid sinecure in jolly old England, and no one pestering him that he can't just ignore, as the Canadian High Commissioner.

Don't you just love political games?

Terrence Murphy Richmond