Vancouver mayor, BC premier warn feds against Kinder Morgan expansion approval
Posted November 28, 2016 4:32 pm.
Last Updated November 29, 2016 8:33 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – BC’s premier and Vancouver’s mayor are warning the federal government against giving Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project approval.
They make a final push after word the decision will be announced this week.
Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson is hopeful the Trudeau Liberals will see that this project isn’t worth the risk. He is optimistic the feds will see the project as he sees it – one lacking scientific and community support.
“Vancouver has been very clear. We don’t accept the pipeline proposal with any conditions. The process to review it by the National Energy Board was flawed and biased and we are challenging that in federal court,” say Robertson.
“We’re still awaiting that decision, but they ignored science, they shut out voices of people here on the West Coast, there’s no First Nations or local community support here, so those are key pieces that we assume the Trudeau government would be looking at as they make their decision.”
Premier Christy Clark also warns the feds the project as is doesn’t have local support. She says BC’s five conditions for approval have still not been met and would expect conditions from the federal government.
“We will go through it with a fine-tooth comb and make sure that we are getting absolutely getting the best deal for British Columbians and protecting our coast and our land base from any risk. That’s my job, to fight for the interests of British Columbia,” explains Clark.
“If the federal government green-lights Kinder Morgan, it’s going to be the prime minister’s job to come to our province and explain to British Columbians why the project is in the national interest. That will be his job should they decide to approve it.”
She is happy enough with some of the changes to spill response, but she believes more needs to be done on the federal level to convince British Columbians they are protected from a catastrophic spill.
The chief of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation is in Ottawa to speak with the Liberal cabinet ahead of the decision.
