The 6,000 construction jobs and the 3,000 jobs for the on-going operation
That seems optimistic. Even if true, those numbers really aren't terribly impressive in a province with a population of >4.4 million. And the notion that a significant share of those jobs will go to First Nations people is fantasy.
The $3.75 billion in new tax revenue between now and 2020 the refinery would generate
Also sounds a bit optimistic. And tax revenue for whom? Not the province of BC I think. That's something the BC premier is insisting on, a piece of the pie, which Alberta is refusing to share. Whether that's extortion or good politics is probably in the eye of the beholder.
Environmentally, the use of new refining technologies will drastically cut emissions and shipping lighter refined products rather than heavier bitumen makes tanker transport safer.
The main worry is a spill along the pipeline and/or from tankers. No refining technology will prevent this.
A refinery on tidewater in B.C. gives Canada access to world markets, especially to the growing markets on the Pacific Rim. As long as Canadian energy is landlocked, the U.S. will continue to take advantage by paying well-below world prices.
In other words, the US will end up paying more for oil should Alberta figure out the export conundrum, whether the pipeline goes to BC or the Gulf Coast. And are we really paying “well below world prices” for Canadian tar sand oil? I don't know and can't be bothered to Google it for the next hour, but it sounds exaggerated.
And finally, the environment is no better off, as other countries will fill the void by producing carbon based-energy, often in ways that are less environmentally-friendly than is the case in Canada.”
Oh jeez, so burning every last drop of Canadian tar sands oil will be an environmental plus? Okey dokey. There's nothing “environmentally friendly” about the way Canada is developing its energy resources. Obvious greenwashing is obvious.
This much is clear: The whole energy situation is up in the air. Rockman, you've done yeoman's service in pointing this out to the board in your threads, particularly those concerning China's bid for power.
But “we'll just burn it all anyway, so who cares” is a popular meme around here. While I'm a determinist on some matters, I do think there are possible future scenarios where we won't “burn it all.” Blocking tar sands development and coal exports is a good place to start.