OPINION: By Randeep Singh Sarai

Earlier this week, the Federal Government took a number of decisions that have an impact on British Columbia. Canadians have been clear – that we need to address climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions while promoting economic prosperity.

The Government of Canada is taking steps to do exactly that by introducing carbon pricing nationally something that has been successful in this province for a number of years, investing in the clean energy economy of tomorrow and finally approving energy projects such as the Kinder Morgan expansion project that will see the creation of over twenty thousand middle class jobs, many of them right here at home in British Columbia.

Canadians know all too well the risk of transporting our resources by rail or truck, it’s also a process that costs as well as emits more greenhouse gas (GHG’s) in the process. The Kinder Morgan project will twin along the existing Edmonton-Burnaby pipeline, a pipeline in existence since the 1950’s. This is a project that has been approved on the basis that it meets or exceeds over 150 separate conditions – as the Member of Parliament for Surrey-Centre and as a British Columbian I will ensure that each and every one of these conditions are met and I fully expect that you will do the same.

Since the election campaign, we have been unequivocally clear that we will protect the environment, including sensitive land masses and waterways. The Government of Canada therefore imposed a moratorium on tanker traffic along British Columbia’s north coast and has also rejected Enbridge’s Northern Gateway proposal.

In doing so we are helping to preserve the Great Bear Rainforest and Salish Sea for future generations.

The Oceans Protection Plan is a $1.5 billion initiative that will see the single largest investment in our maritime and coastal communities. It’s a plan which will see marine traffic monitoring be improved through increased radar capabilities, tougher regulations on industry will be set, making  marine navigation safer. One item that I am particularly proud of is that we will co-manage out coasts with Indigenous and coastal communities. As British Columbians we know that our coast attracts tourism, are home to abundant fisheries, support traditional and coastal community livelihoods’, enable the export of our goods overseas, and play a key role in strengthening the economy and grow the middle class.

 These were tough decisions and I know that many British Columbians are on both sides of the issue – the fact that under the Ocean’s Protection Plan, Canada will become a world leader in marine safety while working towards reconciliation with our indigenous partners. I believe that this government is working to achieve a responsible balance, one that will create the prosperity we seek while preserving the environment that we so treasure.

Randeep S. Sarai  is a Member of Parliament for Surrey-Centre.