Kinder Morgan is signing agreements to dole out millions of dollars to communities along the pipeline, but Burnaby won't be one of them.
The money is to offset impacts from pipeline construction, and while most communities along the length of the Trans Mountain pipeline have signed up, Burnaby has been noticeably absent from the talks.
"It's certainly something we'd like to sit down to talk to them about," said Ali Hounsell, spokesperson for the expansion project. "I know for a fact we've said we'd like to talk to you about questions, concerns and benefits to your community."
So far, Kinder Morgan is prepared to give out $4.6 million to 14 communities, ranging from Alberta to Hope. The funds are being used for various community projects: drinking water infrastructure, upgrading parks and fixing trails, for example.
Kinder Morgan will only pay if the pipeline project goes ahead, a decision ultimately left to the National Energy Board and the Conservative-held cabinet in Ottawa.
"If there's no project, then there's no construction impact," Hounsell said.
However, Hounsell explained the company has not been able to talk to the City of Burnaby for quite some time, apart from minor bureaucratic exchanges with staff.
That's no surprise, since Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan has been a vocal opponent to the pipeline expansion. However, agreeing to take Kinder Morgan's money doesn't mean cities have to agree with the expansion or stop asking tough questions, Hounsell added.
"Nobody has to come out and say they like the pipeline," Hounsell said.
"We expect (tough questions) and want that, because we think it makes the project better," she said.
Corrigan was not available for comment.
Kinder Morgan wants to nearly triple capacity on the Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs oil from Alberta to the West Coast of B.C. The project would involve twinning the existing line and expanding the Burnaby Mountain tank farm and the Westridge Marine Terminal, where tankers fill up with crude.
