Now you own a pipeline...

Now the federal government is purchasing the Kinder Morgan pipeline, what does that mean for Canadians?

Ottawa has said Canadians will not be on the hook for construction costs, but I'm not so sure that applies to the legal costs.

Here are but a few examples where taxpayers will be on the hook:

• Burnaby's mayor has a court case against the pipeline, and those legal costs will be covered by Burnaby taxpayers.
• The B.C. government has a pipeline court case challenge, and B.C. taxpayers will cover those legal costs.
• The federal government will now be participating in those court challenges, and all Canadians will be paying for those legal costs. 

If the courts deny the challenges, all those court costs will give us taxpayers a whopping big bill with nothing to show for it.

Maybe it's time for all British Columbians to focus on the areas of greatest need for our taxpayer dollars, where we know there will be a positive outcome.

Despite assumptions, some our waterways are not pristine. To look at, maybe, but not to drink. 

Some communities do not have clean drinking water even here in the Okanagan.

How many people would feel comfortable drinking water straight out of the Fraser River? 

Water treatment plants are costly and those tax dollars spent on court cases would go a long way to improve our drinking water. Affordable housing is another big issue that the money could go towards. 

Think about it, and let your local government know your concerns.

Kathy Wine