Letters and comments, July 29

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/07/2016 (3721 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Pipeline problems

Re: Good luck selling pipelines now (July 26)

There is a very easy solution to all the debates about the safety of the oil pipelines.

Firstly, when the engineers design the pipe and recommend a certain thickness to the pipe, double it.

Secondly, when the engineers rate the lifespan of the pipe, cut that anticipated lifespan in half and replace it at that time.

I guarantee oil pipeline leaks will disappear. If this is too expensive, then the oil pipeline companies should not be allowed to be in business to continue to wreak havoc at the expense of our environment.

James Hannah

Winnipeg

▼

I would like to take this opportunity to clarify that there are different types of pipelines in Canada: gathering, feeder, distribution and long-haul transmission pipelines.

The Canadian Energy Pipeline Association represents Canada’s transmission pipeline companies who operate about 134,000 kilometres of pipeline in Canada and the United States. These companies include TransCanada, Enbridge, Trans Mountain and nine others. While our members operate transmission pipelines to transport oil and gas products over long distances, upstream operations typically use gathering and feeder pipelines to move these products short distances to facilities.

Association member companies have robust and comprehensive management systems, as pipeline construction and operations are at the core of their business. Upstream companies, however, are focused on exploration and production, with pipelines being an ancillary to that core business.

Through programs such as the association’s Integrity First, we strive for continuous improvement by applying leading practices to advance control room management, emergency management and pipeline integrity. The Integrity First program enables our member companies to work together and share best practices to strengthen industry performance and work towards our stated goal of zero incidents. The association and our members recognize the critical importance of leak detection and are continually pursuing opportunities to improve the sensitivity of the technology.

Maintenance and monitoring throughout the entire lifecycle of a pipeline is a top priority for transmission pipeline companies. Our members have automatic leak detection alarm systems, automatic shut-off valves and devices that monitor the internal condition of the pipe. Transmission pipelines are monitored 24/7 at company control room centres that are equipped with sophisticated computerized sensing systems, which can usually pinpoint a leak or issue within less than one kilometer of the occurrence.

In the unlikely event of a pipeline incident by one of our members, the association’s mutual emergency assistance agreement ensures emergencies are responded to urgently and efficiently. The agreement allows our members to request assistance from each other in the form of personnel, equipment, tools or specialized response advice, depending on the situation. It’s an arrangement that can immediately focus the resources of our members to ensure the swiftest and most complete emergency response possible, regardless of who owns the pipeline or the cause of the incident.

For more information visit aboutpipelines.com

Chris Bloomer

President and CEO, Canadian Energy Pipeline Association

Calgary

Shutdown no surprise

Re: Silence deafening as Churchill shutdown shock spreads (July 26)

The shutdown of the Port of Churchill should come as no surprise to anyone. This is just one of the many negative consequences of the decision to kill the single-desk Canadian Wheat Board by Gerry Ritz, Stephen Harper et, al. This was foreseen and communicated by the farmer-elected CWB board of directors and is well-documented.

The single-desk CWB had the ability to source the grain and provide the expertise necessary to ensure sufficient grain volumes to make the port viable. Now there is virtually no incentive for the grain industry to use Churchill because their profits are dependent on using their facilities on the West Coast or Thunder Bay, Ont. Much of the temporary subsidy provided by the Conservative government to the grain industry was sucked up by Omnitrax which, by the way, has little ability to source grain.

No surprise — but inevitable with the loss of the single-desk CWB.

Bill Toews

Kane

▼

At a time when Western Canada is expecting bumper crop yields in wheat, canola and pulse crops (peas, beans and lentils, etc.) and all the doom-and-gloom environmentalists are predicting that the Arctic will warm, it is difficult to understand the abandoning of the only mid-continent port.

I can only believe that the governments, federal and provincial, are waiting to ride in on white steeds to not only save the port, but announce a billion dollars or two to refurbish and renew the port facility and the rail line.

Surely, if we can spend a billion dollars on the East-Side Road Authority and waste more than a billion dollars on Bipole Three as well as a $600-million bus route so students can shave six minutes from their travel time, then surely we will save our port which will be our gateway to the world. Shame on us all if we don’t.

Peter Kaufmann

Winnipeg

A matter of history

Re: Camp Hughes named national historic site (July 25)

I found the article on Camp Hughes very interesting, except you didn’t mention who started the camp information. It was Bruce Tascona of the Military Collector’s Club of Canada, and its club members, years ago.

John R. Thyen

Past President, MCC of C

Winnipeg

Cautious on carbon tax

Thank goodness Premier Brian Pallister is still evaluating a provincial carbon tax and not jumping onboard like some of the provinces.

Everything produced requires energy simply meaning that prices will definitely increase. In addition, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is talking about a country-wide carbon tax that will result in some Canadians paying double. It has never been clearly explained how the funds will be used and most importantly how it will affect the Canadian standard of living.

Since Canada only produces two per cent of the world’s greenhouse gases, Canada could ban all vehicles and have farmers using ox and plow without benefiting the world at large whatsoever.

China, which is still classified as a Third World country, produces enormous amounts of greenhouse gases but they won’t be imposing carbon tax. Many Canadian industries and jobs have relocated there due to low wages and next to nil regulations.

A carbon tax will make Canada even less competitive. Our gross domestic product will tank. Regardless of political stripe one supports, common sense must prevail. Otherwise Canada is doomed to become a Third World country.

Karen Lalonde

Oakbank

Battery booster

Re: Bargains or a waste of money? (July 25)

The article giving advice about what to avoid at the dollar store made some valid points, but I have to take issue with the advice on batteries. I have bought batteries there for several years, and never had a dud or issues with leakage, and have saved a ton of money over name-brand batteries.

Michael Dowling

Winnipeg

QB shakeup

Re: Something odd about Willy from the get-go (July 26)

Answer is simple: Wpg coaches (Lapo, MacManus and O’Shea) wouldn’t recognize a good starting QB even if they saw one; witness Brian Brohm, Max Hall, Joey Elliot etc. Hence the decision to anoint Willy as starter before seeing him play!

— 23735587

▼

Wow, professional coaches know less than armchair quarterbacks. Sheesh, where did you get your coaching degree? The Cracker Jack box?

— Not a number

▼

Willy and O’Shea both think mediocrity is just fine. No fire, no accountability , stubborn and joined at the hip. What a pair. Their shortcomings were evident 3 years ago, but many Winnipeggers are slow learners.

— user-6881362