The federal government’s ministerial panel on the Kinder Morgan pipeline is costing taxpayers half a million according to information released in response to written questions from Burnaby South MP Kennedy Stewart.
Stewart filed several written questions about the ministerial panel in the House of Commons, and the government had 45 days to reply.
According to the government’s statement, $500,000 maximum was budgeted for the panel, which includes payments for the days the members worked. Each panel member can make $300 per day to a maximum of $25,000 each. The money also covers costs associated with the panel’s main job: to meet with communities along the pipeline corridor and interested indigenous groups, review the online feedback about the project and prepare a final report for the federal government.
Stewart queried how the panel members were chosen, and the government’s reply states it was “based on their positive reputations” and experience, including working with indigenous peoples.
Stewart also asked for the government’s definition of “social licence.” The term refers to a community’s willingness to grant permission to a project. The federal government, however, had an entirely different interpretation as outlined in its response.
“‘Social licence’ is about ensuring public confidence in the decision-making for major resources projects,” the statement reads. “The government is working to ensure environmental assessments are fair and robust so that it can protect the environment while getting resources to market responsibly.”
The three person ministerial panel has wrapped up its meetings with communities along the pipeline route and the marine shipping corridor. The panel is still accepting online comments until Sept. 30, then the report is due on Nov 1.
Stewart said the panel was a waste of money and criticized the fact they are not making any recommendations to government.
“Lots of people showed up to these meeting thinking they were genuine, and they are not,” Stewart said. “It really pours salt in the wound of people who are upset about Kinder Morgan who thought they were going to have their voice heard through all of this.”
