Readers exhorted to write to Enbridge’s board of directors to express their concerns
To the Expositor:
Enbridge’s Pipeline 5, which carries heavy oil (bitumen) underneath Lakes Huron/Michigan at the Mackinaw straits, (the best place if you wanted to enhance an environmental disaster) is 65-years-old, was designed to bear less than its current load, and is tattered (by anchor strikes) and ready to blow. It is a case of when, not if.
Michael Erskine’s recent Expositor article covered these facts. Jim Nies’ recent letter to the editor augmented the case for Canadians to do something about it and outlined excellent recourse–join the American groups who are leading the way. I too, have an idea.
As we, here on Manitoulin, will be devastated by the disaster, let us at least have our voices heard by those who can prevent it. Because we would be personally affected, I believe to be effective, we should make it personal.
The Board of Directors of any corporation has the ultimate decision-making authority. Furthermore, Independent directors are appointed from outside the corporation and are least under the CEO’s influence. The webpage www.enbridge.com/about-us/board-of-directors provides info on each Enbridge director and details which directors are on the Social Responsibility Committee along with those who are Independent.
Here’s what I am asking you to do. Write a personal letter to those directors who are independent or on Enbridge’s Social Responsibility Committee. Tell them how your world will be marred by this disaster. Tell them we will hold them responsible for their stewardship failure. All ages are invited to participate; if you don’t like pen and paper then use social media – I just happen to think that these days, a personal letter sent by regular post is more likely to garner attention.
Send your letter to the director using:
c/o Enbridge Canada Corporate Head Office
200, Fifth Avenue Place
425 – 1st Street S.W.
Calgary, Alberta
Canada T2P 3L8
And mark it personal and confidential. Here are the director’s names: Independent Directors: Marcel Rosaire Coutu, J. Herb England, Charles W Fischer, Maureen Kempston Darkes, Dan C. Tutcher and Cathy L Williams
Corporate Social Responsibility Directors: Pamela L Carter, Michael E J Phelps, Charles W Fischer, Maureen Kempston Darkes and Dan C. Tutcher
As mother always said, the pen is mightier than the sword! Here is my letter — please feel free to use it in any part:
Director X:
I live on the world’s largest freshwater island – Manitoulin. It is a natural haven with many species at risk living here. Our air is sweet and our water is clean. Your duty is good stewardship, but your company’s negligence is threatening our island paradise.
Pipeline 5 is past its life and being used to carry commodity unsuitable to its original design. It is at risk of causing a natural disaster. Its location, underneath lakes Huron/Michigan at the Mackinaw straits, means the consequence of pipeline failure will be catastrophic. A mere Forty million or so people rely on the Great Lakes for their water.
I wish I could trust your company, but its track record proves otherwise. When Pipeline 6B burst on the Kalamazoo River, an incident that was entirely avoidable, your company did not immediately respond — magnifying the intensity of the disaster. Seven years later that clean up is still ongoing.
I am putting you on notice. If Pipeline 5 fails, you are responsible. That will be your legacy.
Therese Trainor
Spring Bay, ON
