FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 17, 2012

MP: CONSERVATIVE POLICY DRIVING UP METRO GAS PRICES
New foreign bidding rules for pipeline oil increasing refining costs, threatens Chevron

BURNABY, BC – Kennedy Stewart (Burnaby-Douglas) says Conservative Government policy is driving up Metro Vancouver gas prices.

“The Conservative Government recently allowed Kinder Morgan to sell more of its Trans Mountain pipeline crude oil to foreign companies, bringing more bids from abroad and driving up costs for the Burnaby Chevron refinery. Higher oil prices for Chevron mean higher gas prices for us.”

Stewart told local residents to expect even higher gas prices if the Harper Government allows the Chevron refinery to close. Multiple refineries across Canada are also in danger of closing, including Imperial Oil’s Dartmouth refinery.

“Kinder Morgan has formally proposed to build a giant new Alberta-Burnaby oil pipeline, and the immense global competition for limited supply means domestic industries will be prohibitively outbid. It would be the final nail in the Chevron refinery’s coffin. The Conservatives could stop the expansion, but have forgotten about British Columbia in their rush to ship crude oil offshore.”

The first opportunity for the public to participate in the pipeline expansion decision occurs this summer when Kinder Morgan applies to the National Energy Board for changes to its commercial tolling.

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For more information, please contact:
Ryan Sudds, Office of Kennedy Stewart, (604) 291-8863 or kennedy.stewart.c1@parl.gc.ca