Burnaby North MLA Richard Lee is among more than 400 people applying to participate in Kinder Morgan’s pipeline expansion hearing with the National Energy Board.
The Liberal MLA applied for commentator status, hoping to represent Premier Christy Clark’s five conditions for heavy oil projects in B.C.
“As a member of the Legislative Assembly for Burnaby North I have the duty to make sure public interests are protected,” Lee wrote in his application, now posted on the National Energy Board website, along with hundreds of others. “I agree that the five conditions regarding heavy old transportation put forward by the provincial government must be satisfied before the project can go ahead.”
Kinder Morgan wants to twin its 1,150-kilometre oil pipeline, which runs through Burnaby, and expand the local tank farm and marine terminal. The application to the National Energy Board was filed on Dec. 16, and people who have relevant expertise or are directly affected by the project can apply as intervenors. Lee, however, has applied as a commentator, which means he can file a letter of comment on the project, but he can’t ask questions of other hearing witnesses or intervenors.
Lee told the NOW the provincial government is planning to apply as an intervenor.
The deadline to apply is Feb. 12 at 11 p.m.
For details on how to get involved go to MP Kennedy Stewart’s site letbcdecide.ca.
