Dear Minister Terry Lake,

Thank you for your reply to my email of May 31. Unfortunately, you have not responded to my concerns at all in your response. I am already well aware of the information that you shared with me, have done my own submission to the Joint Review Panel (JRP), and am keeping myself informed about Enbridge’s plans and PR campaigns.

In addition to the concerns I stated earlier, I am shocked that with the passage of Bill C-38, the results of the JRP will not be binding on the Prime Minister. Clearly, the federal government has shelved democracy in favour of global expansion at all costs – even the cost of the environment and all those people whose livelihoods depend on it. Ultimately, of course, this spells the end of Canada as we know it.

What I am having a hard time understanding is how you, a veterinarian who clearly cares about the health and safety of animals, can toe the party line on Enbridge. With every new spill, of which there have been three since my last email to you, bird and animal habitat is damaged and/or destroyed forever. Since we now know that 90-99 per cent of “rescued” oiled birds DIE anyway, there is NO SOLUTION for BC sea birds whose habitat is along a pipeline route. They are doomed – as are any birds migrating through the affected area.

I’m sure you know all this. I just can’t figure out why a person with your education and concern for the animal world would not stand up and fight with the people of BC who are adamantly opposed to this project.

Happy Canada Day to you and your family, including your cat and dog.