A group of bird lovers and Trans Mountain are disagreeing over why more work in Burnaby has been halted.
The Community Nest Finding Network has posted on social media that some work clearing land in Burnaby near North Road has been halted.
The reason? They say it’s due to the discovery of a Black-capped Chickadee going to and from its nest.
Back in April, Environment Canada issued an order that Trans Mountain must stop cutting down trees in parts of Burnaby near the Brunette River due to the presence of bird nests, including Anna’s hummingbirds. According an email to the NOW from Environment Canada, the tree cutting must be halted until August. Trans Mountain was in the process of cutting down more than 1,300 trees as it clears a path for the pipeline, against the wishes of the City of Burnaby.
“The Community Nest Finding Network has stopped work, again,” reads a post by Donna Clark on Instagram. “A large TMX crew has been forced to down tools. We’re not sure how long the stop work will go on for yet. It’s unfolding. We will keep you updated … The TMX pipeline will never be finished.”
Trans Mountain, however, denies that this is why the work has stopped. Instead, it is due a contractor failing to complete its environmental compliance work.
“The Canada Energy Regulator has issued a stop work order to Trans Mountain that restricts clearing activities across the project – specifically tree clearing and mowing,” reads a statement by Trans Mountain. “The order was issued as a result of a subcontractor conducting clearing activities without completing the necessary environmental compliance work required by Trans Mountain. There were no birds or nests impacted by this clearing. All other construction activity will continue across the project. Trans Mountain takes its regulatory and environmental obligations very seriously. We are working with the regulator to ensure and to demonstrate that we have the appropriate communications protocols in place for contractors at all levels.”
