Vancouver city council and parks board have both passed motions recently opposing the proposed Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion, but Burnaby is taking a more cautious approach.
Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan says he is waiting on a comprehensive staff report before making any decisions.
"Vancouver sent it over to us, but it's not something we're considering at this point," he said on Friday, regarding the City of Vancouver's motion. "We haven't brought it before council and got staff to review it at this stage."
The motion, which was introduced by Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson at a council meeting last Wednesday, also demands that pipeline operators and tankers have enough liability insurance to cover the cost of an oil spill.
The Vancouver parks board also voted to oppose the pipeline expansion at its meeting on April 30.
"We're still working on our report, which will be ready probably within the next week or two, on what's happening," Corrigan said. "We wanted to get some of the more factual information out to the public, as to where things are, because so far Kinder Morgan has mainly been communicating information through press releases."
Corrigan said he had a meeting with the National Energy Board, as a member of the port cities committee for Metro Vancouver.
"The meeting with the National Energy Board was good because it gave us an idea of the procedural steps that will be taken in order to advance this application," he said.
Corrigan was surprised to find out there isn't currently a national energy plan determining how to move and export oil in Canada.
"To my shock and surprise, there isn't one," he said.
The country needs a plan to give municipalities and other levels of government strategic direction on what to do, he added.
Many private operators are putting forward applications, Corrigan said.
"It's like a free-for-all with the private sector to try to advance some proposal," he said, "without any consideration of what might be in the interests of Canada as a whole."
Kinder Morgan announced in April that it would proceed with a $5 billion plan to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs oil from Alberta to Burnaby.
The pipeline, which handles a maximum of 300,000 barrels per day, will nearly triple capacity to 850,000. Trans Mountain is currently the only pipeline that runs oil products to the West Coast.
"We are still early in the engagement process of the project," Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, told the NOW.
"We share respectful, open relationships with many communities and organizations interested in our business. We are committed to an 18-to 24 month inclusive, extensive and thorough engagement on all aspects of the project with local communities along the proposed route and marine corridor, including First Nations and aboriginal groups, environmental organizations and all other interested parties. We will also consider providing financial support to local communities for environmental initiatives. We have been planning for this day for many years, and we are keen to start in-depth engagement this summer."
Preliminary plans include twinning the existing pipeline within the existing right-of-way where possible, new pump stations along the route, increased number of storage tanks at existing facilities, and expansion of the Westridge Marine Terminal in North Burnaby.
"We anticipate filing a facilities application initiating a regulatory review with the National Energy Board in 2014. If our application is approved, construction is currently forecast to commence in 2016 with the proposed project operating by 2017," Anderson said.
