INTRODUCTION
The northern gateway pipeline is a proposed twin pipeline project aimed at transporting crude oil and natural gas condensate between the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta. This pipeline is postulated to be about 1177 kilometers in length. The company contracted to build this pipeline is Enbridge Company which is based in Canada. The western pipeline of the twin will be expected to transport crude oil from British Columbia to Alberta from refining while natural gas condensate will be transported in the eastern twin line to British Columbia to dilute the crude oil for transportation.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON CANADA THAT RELATES TO YOUR TOPIC:
In the past, Canada has established several offshore oil wells which produce a substantial amount of oil which earns a good percentage of national income. In the recent past, Canada has thought of ways to improve crude oil delivery to the refineries which are much inland and reduce the cost of oil transportation. As a result, the government resolved to use pipeline to transport the products. This is the idea that led to conception of the northern gateway pipeline but due to some factors not fully considered during the planning phase of the project, this project has resulted in many demerits than merits. The greatest impact would be on the economic status of Canada if implemented.
THESIS STATEMENT: Do you think the northern gateway pipeline has any benefits and are you opposed to the construction of the pipeline?
BODY OF THE ESSAY
FIRST PARAGRAPH: CANADIAN CONTEXT
SUPPORTING DETAILS 1: looking at the Netherlands, they implemented such a project which led to constraints of other sectors of the economy. This led to the dutch disease which led to almost collapsing of the agricultural sector.
SUPPORTING DETAILS 2: increased inflation rates. This will set in due to the ignorance which might chip in the economy due to extra concentration on only one sector of the economy
SUPPORTING DETAILS 3: environmental degradation due to the pipeline construction. This will result in reduced agricultural income due to the degradation.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE: this project might have very harmful effects on the economy thus should not be implemented as it is currently.
EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH 1
EXPLAIN EVIDENCE: this was observed in Netherlands and it almost saw to it that the other sectors of the economy where about to collapse. This came as a result of the expense of the pipeline project and the abrupt rendering of port loading and unloading equipment useless almost bringing to a standstill all the port facilities and operation.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE: the government should not risk the whole economy because of only one project which might even result in more disadvantages than advantages.
EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH 2
EXPLAIN EVIDENCE: due to reliance on only one sector of the economy and the high cost of setting up the pipeline, the economy might face some inflation. The economy will also become unstable due to the dependence on oil as the main generator of GDP and this sector relies on international oil prices. The fluctuations of these prices will make the economy much unstable.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE: due to some uncertainties which might see the country in hyper inflation state, the project should not be implemented.
EVIDENCE PARAGRAPH 3
EXPLAIN EVIDENCE: closely examining the situation and the outcome, the oil company will have less employees compared to the number it serves today. This will result in retrenchment of some employees and consequently, unemployment levels will increase drastically.
CONCLUDING SENTENCE: since this project will not be in a position to absorb all the former employees, instead of implementing it only to become a retrenchment scheme the government should turn to other sectors of the economy and invest in project which will be of much benefit.
REFUTATION
SUPPORTING DETAILS 1: this will be because the project will have a very large break even period over which it is the common citizen who will be suffering instead of benefiting
REFUTATION OF ABOVE POINT: this statement is in controversy with the objective of reducing the general oil cost to the consumer by almost 40%. Instead of this benefit, the people will face more problems.
SUPPORTING DETAILS 2: the whole project is more of a white elephant thus only the taxpayers’ money will go to waste. This is due to observable scenarios where the existing pipeline has minimal surveillance yet this pipeline is anticipated to be under 24 hours surveillance.
REFUTATION OF ABOVE POINT: this point is opposed to the idea that the pipeline company will be at a point to completely monitor the pipeline.
SUPPORTING DETAILS 3: due to concentration on only one part of the economy, the other sectors will face deterioration and the whole economy will be worse compared to the status it was in before the project was constructed
REFUTATION OF ABOVE POINT: this is opposed to the idea that the pipeline will lead to creation of more job opportunities and help redistribute development in Canada
CONCLUDING SENTENCE: the whole project is a scheme to siphon funds from the economy and leave the country in wrangles. Therefore, the whole project should be abandoned once and for all
CONCLUSION
POINT 1 TO EMPHASIZE: the source of funds to construct the pipeline
POINT 2 TO EMPHASIZE: Dutch disease
POINT 3 TO EMPHASIZE: effect of the project on the general welfare of a common citizen of Canada
RECOMMENDATIONS/CALL TO ACTION: re-evaluation of the whole project
Implementation strategy should be closely monitored if the project will have to be implemented.
REFERENCES
1. ey J, 2008. Enbridge rekindles oil sands pipeline plan, Reuters on 2008-02-15.
2. Gateway Pipeline Project retrieved from Downstream Today, on 2010-10-25
3. Andrew N. 2012. Economist calls Gateway Pipeline an Inflation threat. Retrieved from http://thetyee.ca/News/2012/02/02/Northern-Gateway-Inflationary-Threat/
4. http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/ottawa-maintains-support-for-enbridge-and-northern-gateway/article4426926/
