The Burnaby Teachers' Association is "encouraged" by NDP leader Adrian Dix's recent opposition to the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
"When pipelines are expanded, health and environmental risks increase. It's not a matter of if there will be a spill, but when," said Patrick Parkes, the association's vice-president. "The vast majority of Burnaby residents do not support an expanded pipeline, and we're glad to see Adrian Dix responding to community concerns not just here, but across the province."
However, Dix never actually said he opposed the Kinder Morgan plan, per se. On Monday, April 22, in a statement issued to media, Dix said he did not want Vancouver turned into a major oil export facility and an NDP government would take back "decision making authority" from the federal government, likely over the environmental assessment process.
Kinder Morgan wants to twin the Trans Mountain line, which runs oil from Alberta to the West Coast and a terminal in Burnaby. The existing line runs next to a number of schools in Burnaby. The teachers' association is calling for school safety regulations specific to pipeline leaks.
