"To go from: 'We're opposed to it no matter what', to: 'Well, maybe we're opposed to it, maybe we're not', and applying different principles to different projects-that's not clear," she said.

With both party leaders claiming rights to the principled high ground, Rick Zales-ki said he feels somewhat let down.

Zaleski said he and his wife have been drawn to the NDP over its opposition to Enbridge, but still think Dix could do better.

"I think they (the NDP) could do more too. They seem to be hedging their bets on the Kinder Morgan pipeline," he said.

"If you're saying you don't want bitumen piped through B.C. at one point, what's the difference when it's being piped through somewhere else?" he asked.

"It would just be nice to see someone who is committed to going forward with a plan, and not a plan that takes us back to 1950, but one that takes us into the future, that is based on something that is beyond, 'Let's open another coal mine and let's ship bitumen to China,'" he added. "To me that's not the future. We're going backwards."

In hopes of adding their voice to the opposition against heavy oil pipelines in B.C.-both the Kinder Morgan proposal to twin its Trans Mountain pipeline into Vancouver and the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline- the Zaleskis pulled their boys out of school to travel to Victoria for a demonstration at the B.C. Legislature.

"We can't put our faith in others anymore so if we want to try to do something for our community and for our children and their children, we've got to start speaking up," said Leta.

"I'm an Albertan. I think people just don't understand what B.C. has in terms of a coast, and the tourism and that type of thing. You can't afford to lose it."

Rick, who belongs to a local community group that opposes the pipeline, said he also thinks it will be important to be in Victoria for the demonstration.

"As a parent I'm starting to feel that need to try to make some changes to do something about it," he said, adding he has not traditionally been an activist.

"I'm tired of waiting for politicians to try to do something."