It’s a letter most homeowners would be unhappy to receive.
If your property is on the route of the new pipeline expansion, you will be getting a letter from Trans Mountain asking you if you are opposed, or more precisely, “adversely affected” by the pipeline’s construction.
According to the company’s spokesperson, there’s only a handful of potential landowners who may be impacted.
If you do receive a letter, you will be asked to detail how you think the pipeline will adversely affect you. For example: Will it carve out a chunk of your view or your yard? Will the construction noise be unbearable? Will it run close enough to your property to destroy your property value? Will the timing of the construction ruin your business?
You must file a statement of opposition within 30 days after Trans Mountain issues its last notice. And, apparently, the National Energy Board may then hold a hearing.
One could forgive a close pipeline news follower for having less than full faith in the NEB’s hearings. The ones held for the pipeline were so flawed that even Justin Trudeau promised changes to the process. Of course, that was before he was elected.
Anyone who thinks some small landowner is going to be able to change the route of the pipeline, even if he or she will face tremendous hardship, is breathing in more than bitumen. If large protests about environmental concerns didn’t faze the federal government, someone losing their backyard patio surely isn’t going to stop it.
In fact, the biggest landowner facing the biggest impact is, not surprisingly, the City of Burnaby.
The route slices through parkland in Burnaby and, of course, will completely change the waterfront where the current Westridge Terminal is located.
The $6.8-billion project will triple the oil flow and increase oil tanker traffic nearly seven fold in the inlet.
Burnaby has thrown hurdles into the pipeline process from day one, with little impact.
MP Kennedy Stewart has also tried to stop the pipeline, with no success.
Burnaby’s case before the Federal Court of Appeal is probably its last-ditch attempt – and odds aren’t good on that one. However, courts sometimes surprise us by choosing justice over the status quo.
We won’t hold our breath.
