It’s pitting province against province.
And Burnaby is at the center of the dispute.
And, yes, it’s all about the pipeline.
Not surprisingly Kinder Morgan is calling on the National Energy Board to fast-track permits that are wending their way through Burnaby’s city hall.
Last week, Mayor Derek Corrigan said Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, came in to see him to complain about the speed at which approvals were being granted. Corrigan said it would be unethical to ignore the process or not follow it properly.
Anderson then went and launched the appeal to the National Energy Board to fast-track the process.
None of this is particularly surprising.
Burnaby has fought in court arguing the National Energy Board does not have the unfettered right to ignore municipal jurisdiction. They lost that round, so we’re not quite sure what chance they have of persuading the NEB now that their municipal process should be respected.
Alberta is squarely on Kinder Morgan’s side because, of course, they’re pro pipeline. B.C.’s new NDP and Green leaders have said they are opposed to the pipeline and will do everything in their power to stop it. But they’re up against the feds, Alberta and Saskatchewan. And, of course, B.C. is currently challenging the federal Liberals approval of the pipeline at the Federal Court of Appeal because they believe B.C.’s concerns about environmental risks were not sufficiently addressed.
It doesn’t help Kinder Morgan’s case that it has already been found to be breaking rules and beginning construction on salmon-spawning creeks.
There’s no question Kinder Morgan is in a hurry.
For every month that goes by the oil and gas industry is becoming more and more like the cigarette industry. Yes, people are addicted to gas and oil, but the fact is it is killing the planet and offers oil barons and their supporters far more than it offers the average taxpayer.
And, of course, the consequences of a spill in Burrard Inlet can simply not be reduced to mere odds. If there is any chance at all that a spill can happen – and there is – it is just too risky.
We doubt Burnaby or the province actually believes it can stop the pipeline. But that doesn’t mean both Burnaby and B.C. should not try everything in their power to ensure regulations are followed to the letter of the law and everything possible is done to protect the environment.
