Dear Editor:
Contrary to the impression created in a letter to theBurnaby NOW(Oct. 23, What benefits does pipeline really bring?), a workshop hosted by the Burnaby Board of Trade was an overwhelmingly positive opportunity for businesses to learn more about the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
Aside from a couple of critics, the 100 attendees represented local businesses mostly from Burnaby, New Westminster, Tri-Cities and Vancouver who were there to learn about opportunities for contracts and job creation in their communities.
Nearly all questions were from business people who wanted to know how to lock down those opportunities.
Kinder Morgan Canada and its construction contractors are on the record, over and over again with governments and with the media, committing to give local businesses and local workers every available opportunity to participate.
Kinder Morgan already has a good track record, working with Lower Mainland business operators and trades people as sub-contractors on the original Trans Mountain line and terminals in North Burnaby.
Project benefits will be felt by all Burnaby residents, with Trans Mountain property tax payments rising from $7 million a year to $13 million when the project is finished.
That keeps property taxes lower for everybody including homeowners and local business operators because Kinder Morgan will be taking on a much bigger load.
This project is a win-win for everyone.
David Mendenhall, New Westminster
