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So why not use Russian oil? We all know Russian oil is extracted according to the strictest environmental standards, workers operate under the best conditions and the Indigenous people are consulted whenever any work would affect their environment. Oh, and let’s not forget about Vladimir Putin, that great defender of democracy and human rights. As my grandson might say, “Not!”

We know we’d much rather buy oil from Canada than Russia. I just don’t believe, given the choice, Canadians would rather get our oil from a brutal dictatorship thousands of kilometres away than from a province right next door.

The refineries in Washington state that supply some of B.C.’s gasoline want Canadian oil, too. At Anacortes, where the Nordtulip docked after its voyage from Vladivostok, both refineries get some oil from the Trans Mountain pipeline. The Andeavor refinery has made a “significant” commitment for more Alberta oil over the next 10 to 15 years.

But before they can get it, the Trans Mountain extension must be built.

Canada must be the only country in the world where a vocal minority of citizens protest against using their most valuable natural resource to maintain one of the world’s highest standards of living, best health care, pensions, education and other benefits too numerous to list.

Does Canadian oil contribute to greenhouse-gas emissions? Of course it does.

Should that be a reason for us to leave it to other countries — many of them with totalitarian governments — to supply a demand that’s going to exist whether we help fill it or not?