Dear Editor:
And so - Burnaby is to be the sacrifice!
Last week, our federal government succumbed to the bullying of Kinder Morgan and the hysteria of Alberta to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline without waiting for the Federal Court of Appeal’s decision on the consolidated 14 legal challenges (one of which is from the City of Burnaby) regarding the National Energy Board’s recommendation and federal government’s approval of the pipeline project.
For 25 years, I have lived, worked and played with joy and gratitude on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish Peoples. My home for all those years is five kilometres from the Burnaby Mountain Terminal (tank farm) and four kilometres from the railway and (Ironworkers Memorial) bridges - these distances are significant.
Our deputy fire chief of Burnaby published an extensive report on the serious risks of the tank farm expansion proposal and lists a 5.2-km radius as a “High Life Hazard Area.”
This report was included in the City of Burnaby’s intervention with the NEB.
BROKE - Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion - also intervened with the NEB concerning the toxic materials contained in the product as well as the risks of an earthquake in our area. The ministerial panel appointed by the new Liberal government in 2016 to listen to the concerns of citizens, highlighted those concerns in their report to government.
I was a commentator with the NEB listing health issues I experienced when I dared to enjoy the mountain trails around the existing facility and its off-gases.
There have been five events of seismic activity between Squamish and Mission in the last month. The 1999 Izmit earthquake in Turkey sparked a disastrous fire at a refinery with the same holding tanks as the 13 tanks that will be left in use in Burnaby, along with 12 new, bigger ones on the same footprint in a densely populated, forested area on the side of a mountain.
Along with other concerned citizens, I have tried to get the attention of the federal minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and been ignored, even having the door of his regional office, locked against us during a peaceful demonstration to present a letter of our concerns. Minister Goodale has not replied to the mailed submission and when queried about it in the House of Commons by Burnaby South Member of Parliament, he remained silent.
The Concerned Professional Engineers put out a report on the unacceptable risk of a tanker collision at the railway and (Ironworkers Memorial) bridges which span the Inlet. With the increased traffic of proposed 400 tankers a year carrying the product under those bridges, what could possibly go wrong.
The collision of the Sanchi tanker in January with explosion and fire, and the Superior, Wisconsin refinery fire and explosion in April left me with a feeling of hopelessness after the past five years of advocating against this project because of its risks to life and community.
I am a retiree who still works to cover expenses. I do not own my own home. I am not a bored retiree. I am not funded by some foreign radical environmentalists’ organization. What I am, is a concerned, committed, dedicated senior working for a future for our children.
On May 16, before the bailout, I took an act of self-defence for myself, my loved ones and my community and was subsequently arrested. I stand in honour with my fellow 200-plus arrestees.
Elan Gibson, Burnaby
