The Enbridge oil conglomerate has been under scrutiny for its proposed Northern Gateway Pipelines. These twin pipelines run from Alberta through British Columbia to the ports of Kitimat. Of course Alberta is all for it, but British Columbians are another story. Enbridge constantly advertises to this segment with ideas of high safety standards and what British Columbia stands to gain. Advertising such a claim, some may call unethical. Simply because of the devastation Enbridge has wrought in the past, mainly the Kalamazoo incident.

Enbridge has been called out for blatantly lying to the public with their pipeline route video. The video can be viewed upon as a tactic to sway the unknowing audience to agree with Enbridge. This video shows the port where the oil tankers would eventually set-off. However this scheme had backfired on Enbridge. Another video appeared on Youtube, by environmentalists, showing that all Enbridge’s video did was provide illicit information.

The first image shows how Enbridge wants the public to perceive the port. The second show how it actually is. This difference is massive. Imagine the the destructive force of an oil tanker spill so close to home.

Its fine if Enbridge advertises the truth, say the economic benefits and ties to the Asiatic regions, but to me, a lie of this magnitude is outrageous and should be punished.

In marketing, I find many firms stretch the truth quite a bit and I guess that is fine to a degree because if the firm advertises something is amazing and the consumer finds out its garbage, it soon spreads and the company’s reputation is put in jeopardy. I think a firm should indeed tell the truth. If not, just like Enbridge, the bad news may circulate around.