BC Politics with Hubert Beyer

VICTORIA -- So our premier is a bit peeved, is he? Seems he doesn't like the deafening silence and indifference that greeted what must be the 59th announcement of the construction of a natural gas pipeline from the Mainland to Vancouver Island. Well, Mr. Premier, there probably is a Santa Claus, I admit, but as for that pipeline, a lot of people would appreciate a bed time story that didn't stretch their imagination quite as much.

Let me fill you in on the background. You were barely of drinking age and selling tulip bulbs when W.A.C. Bennett first promised to build a natural gas pipeline to the island. It was a good vote- getter then, and has faithfully served succeeding administrations in a similar capacity ever since.

When W.A.C. went the way of all politicians, David Barrett picked up the pipeline banner, never dropping it until he followed Wacky into political oblivion. Then it was Bill Bennett's turn to keep the carrot dangling in front of Vancouver Islanders.

Bennett junior, too, took the plan to his political grave, and it was only a matter of time, I suppose, before Premier Vander Zalm got hooked on the pipeline. Or should I say before he tried to get us hooked on it for the umpteenth time?

Despite the tempting bait, however, the fish aren't biting. Seems they don't trust their politicians. You know how it is; you can fool some of the people ... etc, etc, etc.

Not that a pipeline bringing natural gas to Vancouver Island would be a bad idea. In the contrary. Vancouver Islanders would love to heat their homes as cheaply as their Mainland confreres.

The same goes for business and industry. It's just that nobody believes the damn thing will ever be built. And who can blame them?

But it's different this time, the premier says. It's for real.

This time, a pipeline will be built. It will be 533 km long and make natural gas available to 20 communities on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast.

According to the announcement -- that's the latest in a never- ending series -- the federal and provincial governments will contribute $150 million each to the $485 million project. The rest is to be covered by the private sector.

The two governments have even figured out that the $485 project will create about 6,400 person-years in direct employment and another 3,500 person-years in spinoff employment.

It all sounds pretty good until you start reading the "agreement" the two governments say they have reached. To start with, it's not even an agreement; it's called a "statement of principles."

There is no commitment on the part of either the federal or the provincial government to follow through on the announcement. All we have is a promise, and this is how it's worded: "The governments will use their best efforts to finalize a definite agreement or agreements ... embodying the statement of principles as expeditiously as possible but in any event by September 30, 1989."

On the strength of that vague promise, our premier decided to waxe wise and statesmanlike.

"The project is another example of the excellent co-operation between the two levels of government. It will provide guidelines for future discussions for developing British Columbia energy projects which show economic and environmental benefits," the premier said.

I have a couple of questions, if I may. What if the Tories lose the next election? What if they get back in, but with a minority?What if they do get in with a majority but have second thoughts about the pipeline?

They wouldn't renege, you say? O yea? Tell that to the universities which were convinced four years ago that their research and development funds would be inviolate. For that matter, tell it to anyone who remembers a federal promise broken -- which would be about 20 million Canadians.

I'm not alone in my skepticism of this project. It is shared by many Vancouver Island municipal officials. They, too, remember all the previous promises of a natural gas pipeline, promises that were ignored the moment they were made.

On the outside chance that I am wrong, I would like to make a promise, but one I intend to keep. The day construction starts on the mythical pipeline, I will wear sack cloth and sit down to a generous helping of crow.

Overcome with shame and remorse, teeth clenched in silent fury, I will write a column, apologizing for having been such a negative nellie of newspapering or nattering nabob of negativism, if you prefer. Honest, I will.

In the meantime, I'll remain the skeptic I am, certain in the knowledge that I've never been wrong about any of the multitude of announcements of a Vancouver Island gas pipeline.