Kinder Morgan’s $6.8-billion Trans Mountain pipeline can go ahead, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on Tuesday.
The federal Liberal cabinet is approving the controversial proposal, which will triple the pipeline’s capacity from 300,000 barrels a day to 890,000.
“We believe this project meets strict environmental impact standards, and it will need to meet or exceed 157 conditions set by the National Energy Board,” Trudeau said during a press conference, noting the project will create 15,000 new, middle-class jobs. “We made this decision today because we are convinced it’s in the best interest of Canadians.”
The reaction by Burnaby’s two NDP MPs to Tuesday’s announcement was swift.
Burnaby South MP Kennedy Stewart said the prime minister has “betrayed” B.C. residents and broken his promise to make Kinder Morgan submit to a new review process.
He added the Liberals have approved a pipeline that was reviewed by former prime minister Stephen Harper’s process.
“They (voters) trusted Mr. Trudeau with their votes; they believed him when he was speaking in the election, and now he’s betrayed that trust,” Stewart told the NOW.
The Burnaby MP also expects tension and conflict in B.C. with the pipeline’s approval.
“It’s going to bring this province to a standstill,” he said. “That is so disrespectful to us. I don’t think I’ll be able to look at him (Trudeau) in the House of Commons. I’m just disgusted by this whole thing.”
It was a sentiment echoed by New Westminster-Burnaby MP Peter Julian.
“It is a very clear betrayal for anyone who voted Liberal in the last campaign, and what Mr. Trudeau is showing them is just contempt for the promises he made in the last campaign,” he said.
Julian pointed out Trudeau promised not to approve pipelines without social licence, suggesting there is clearly not social licence for the project here in B.C.
And he too expects to see people taking to the streets in a push back against the pipeline.
“I think for Mr. Trudeau to try and ram this through over British Columbians’ objections shows appallingly bad judgment,” Julian said.
Burnaby North-Seymour Liberal MP Terry Beech emailed a statement. It read as follows: “Terry has just received the full details of the announcement. He’s currently going through the materials and will reserve comment until he has fully reviewed the information.
“He has also decided to open up his constituency office this weekend as an open house for any constituents who would like to discuss the implications of this decision. If constituents would like to book a one-on-one meeting, they can contact Terry’s office at 604-718-8870 or [email protected].”
Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, said Tuesday's announcement is a "defining moment" for the project and for Canada's energy industry.
"This decision follows many years orf engagement and the presentation of the very best scientific, technical and economic information. We are excited to move forward and get this project built," he said in a press release.
Construction of the pipeline is expected to begin next September, with an estimated in-service date of late 2019.
