My Position On The Northern Gateway Pipeline

Recently in humanities we have been researching and discussing Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline. After reading two articles and watching two videos both for and against the pipeline I have come to my final decision that I am against the pipeline. I say this because overall it would be more of a benefit to Canada if we did not build it. Specifically the initial costs outweigh the benefits of the pipeline, for the construction and operation of the pipeline alone the cost will be 6 billion dollars. Also the lasting costs such as maintenance will be millions yearly. To add to that the pipeline will be transporting the dirtiest, thickest oil in the world from Edmonton to Kitimat, BC. Northern Gateway will send 525,000 barrels of oil a day under one of the most valuable rain forests in Canada. Since the oil is so thick it needs to be diluted with another substance called "condensate", condensate is a dilution mixture that will be sent from the United States to Canada through another pipeline. The Condensate would be another heavy cost. One key argument supporting his position is the environmental impact, if there was a spill it would pollute rainforest, fresh-water bodies, First Nations reserves, farmland, wildlife, livestock and many people ways of lives. I say this because if a spill were to take place the impact would be indescribable. The St. Albert Gazette writes "Enbridge also confirmed it is applying for two separate permits at the hearing, the export pipeline to ship bitumen and the import pipeline to import condensate into Canada. Each pipeline could go ahead separately depending on what the review panel board rules. The $6 billion price tag includes construction and operation of both pipelines." This is why I am against the construction and use of the Northern Gateway Pipeline.