Not for sale

In the push to open up new markets for tar sands exports, two proposed pipelines are currently under review that would move bitumen from Alberta's tar sands to shipping terminals in British Columbia: Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline and Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. The B.C. government is critically assessing its support for these proposals, which offer little benefit while presenting considerable costs to British Columbia and its residents. As such, the B.C. government has demanded better revenue-sharing opportunities as the price for its support. But the question remains: at what cost to B.C. and to British Columbians would these pipelines come? If B.C. is looking at selling its acceptance for heavy-oil pipelines, what exactly would be up for sale?