Dozens of pipeline opponents descended on Terry Beech’s constituency office on Friday, urging the federal government to reject the Kinder Morgan pipeline in the wake of recent changes for major energy projects.
The group hung signs outside the office and delivered 10 reports bolstering arguments against the pipeline, which is in the final review stages with the National Energy Board.
“We wanted to clearly send a message to Mr. Beech that any legitimate review will have to reject this pipeline,” said Cam Fenton, of 350.org, one of the groups involved in the rally. “You have the evidence, and you have the voices of the people saying no.”
Beech is the Liberal MP for Burnaby North-Seymour. sThe activists delivered 6,000 signed postcards calling for the rejection of the Kinder Morgan pipeline. They also delivered a framed image, wrapped in a bow, of a pre-election Burnaby NOW story, where Beech stated: “We’ve already said there will be no decision on Kinder Morgan in January. Kinder Morgan will have to go through a new, revised process.”
Yet last week, the federal government announced an extension to the review time for cabinet to deliberate on the NEB’s final recommendation, which is still due on May 20. The move is to allow for a review of upstream greenhouse gas emissions, more consultation with First Nations and appointment of a ministerial representative to consult with affected communities. In an interview with the NOW following the announcement, Beech maintained the new changes constituted “a new process.”
“This is a revised process. In order to do a full revision of the National Energy Board process, that’s going to take significant more time,” he said.
Members of Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion were at the really with a message for Beech.
“They were calling on Beech to be Burnaby’s voice in Ottawa and not Ottawa’s voice in Burnaby,” Fenton said.
“He seemed to listen and he accepted all the reports, and he made it clear to folks he was going to live up to the expectations people (have) of him,” Fenton said.
Friday also marked the end of the Burnaby portion of the pipeline hearings, which resume in Calgary until the end of the week. Activists are also planning a rally for the Calgary hearings, Fenton said.
Beech was not available for an interview.
