Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan wants Alberta’s new NDP premier to consider the impacts on the other end of the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
The City of Burnaby sent Notley’s office two recent reports on the proposed pipeline expansion: the fire department’s scathing review of hazards at the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and the joint Vancouver, Burnaby and Tsleil-Waututh Nation study on worst-case oil spill scenarios in the Burrard Inlet.
“The important thing for (Notley) to know is the impact on the other end of the line,” Corrigan told the NOW. “I think she’s going to be sensitive to those issues and how they impact people here, and as a result, I think it’s going to help her come to conclusions about how they should deal with this issue in Alberta.”
Corrigan, a staunch pipeline opponent, has said he’s willing to be arrested and risk ending his political career over the pipeline.
Meanwhile, Notley has said Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline is “not the right decision,” but she said Kinder Morgan’s proposed expansion for the Trans Mountain pipeline “continues to be worthy of discussion because the route there has been established and has been fairly effective.”
Corrigan was encouraged by Notley’s comments on refining oil in Canada.
“That changes a lot of the issues for that oil if it’s refined in Alberta. Now you have a refined product moving through pipelines to markets and it’s now used in North America,” he said.
Corrigan hasn’t had a chance to discuss the reports with Notley yet, but he’s hoping to meet with her.
Corrigan also agreed for his assistant, Kate Van Meer-Mass, to take a leave of absence to work with the new premier and help her set up her new office.
The NOW requested an interview with Notley, but she's wasn't available.
