A proposed plan by Enbridge could have tar sand oil being transported near the Village, which might pose a threat to residents in the area.
Line 9 is a 38 year old oil pipeline that runs in close proximity to York. It runs parallel to Murray Ross at Sentinel Road.
This existing pipeline, owned and operated by Enbridge, was used to transport light crude oil from Montreal to Sarnia. Now, Enbridge proposing to the National Energy Board for the pipeline to reverse its flow, bringing tar sands oil from Alberta through Sarnia all the way to Montreal.
Line 9 passes through over 100 communities, including York and its surrounding area. This poses a concern as there have been other pipelines that have ruptured, causing major health and safety risks.
Amit Praharaj, member of the Council of Canadians and an activist in Stop Line 9 Campaign, says he has contacted the President’s Office and received no support in so far as stopping this proposed plan.
“After learning about the health and safety risks for its students there has still been no action taken from the university to prevent the pipeline,” says Praharaj. “York University has ignored the risks in order to protect their relationship with Enbridge.”
Line 9 is the same age and making of Line 6B. Line 6B is Enbridge’s famously known pipeline that ruptured in 2010 into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan.
Line 6B spilt over three million liters of toxic diluted tar sands oil, resulting in many serious environmental and human health effects. Residents of the area were evacuated and advised not to drink the water; even three years later, most of the residences choose to drink bottled water.
Tar sands oil is nothing like light crude oil and when spilt, clean up is very different than traditional oil companies are used to dealing with. This is why Praharaj feels York should take initiative to stop this disaster from incubating.
The decision, which is now sits before the National Energy Board for consideration, faces opposition from communities around the pipeline. All communities including city of Toronto, Mississauga, Burlington, and Hamilton are against Enbridge’s proposal to the NEB.
York University has made no official objections to Enbridge’s’ proposal.
With the possibility of another pipeline leak, York students could face major health and safety risks, as well as an interruption of their education with the closure of the university self.
York students looking to get involved with the campaign or to learn more about Line 9 should go here or contact Amit Praharaj amitpraharaj@gmail.com who has been leading this campaign at York.
Nancy Ghuman
Contributor
