Little Public Support for TMX Oil Pipeline, MP Stewart Finds

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 11, 2011

LITTLE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR TMX OIL PIPELINE, MP STEWART FINDS

BURNABY, BC – Consultations undertaken by Kennedy Stewart, Burnaby-Douglas MP and Associate Critic for Natural Resources in Western Canada, show few British Columbians currently support Kinder Morgan’s proposal to twin the Edmonton-to-Burnaby Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline.

A Mustel poll commissioned by Stewart shows only 31% of British Columbians support twinning the Trans Mountain oil pipeline, while 35% support keeping the existing single oil pipeline and 11% favour removing all Trans Mountain oil pipeline infrastructure. 22% have not yet formed an opinion on this issue.

Stewart believes support is low for the proposal because British Columbians are wary of bearing the burden of increased local environmental risks while gaining very little in return economically.

“I have spoken to local residents, energy and environmental sector stakeholders, First Nations, and government officials. Most told me they think twinning the pipeline dramatically increases the likelihood of a South Coast Oil spill while providing few new BC-based tax revenues or jobs. They think they are taking all the risks but gaining few benefits with this project.”

Stewart, a tenured Associate Professor of Public Policy on leave from Simon Fraser University, will continue to consult the public on this issue, including surveying all 44,000 households in his constituency of Burnaby-Douglas. Burnaby is the terminus of the Trans Mountain pipeline and home to the Westridge Marine Terminal from which pipeline oil is shipped abroad.

“I am working hard to ensure the public is informed about important issues like this one and that their voices are heard within the decision-making process,” says Stewart.

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Please see attached for polling table.

Conducted by telephone in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, the Mustel poll of 500 British Columbians is considered accurate to within +/- 4.4%, 19 times out of 20. The poll took place between September 12 and 25, 2011.

For more information, please contact:
Jaclyn Moneypenny, parliamentary assistant, 613-996-5597 or Kennedy.Stewart.A2@parl.gc.ca
Ryan Sudds, constituency assistant, 604-360-4921 or Kennedy.Stewart.C1@parl.gc.ca