MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROMISES TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE REVIEW

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 25, 2011

MINISTER OF NATURAL RESOURCES PROMISES TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE REVIEW
Responds to questions from MP Kennedy Stewart

OTTAWA – Today Kennedy Stewart, Member of Parliament for Burnaby Douglas and Opposition Associate Critic for Natural Resources for Western Canada, secured assurances from the Minister of Natural Resources Joe Oliver that the government would review Kinder Morgan’s plan to twin the Trans Mountain Oil Pipeline.

Stewart asked Oliver to agree to a full public consultation on this pipeline expansion, including direct talks with affected municipalities and First Nations. Describing the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion plan as “major”, the Minister agreed to have the proposal reviewed by at least one regulatory agency.

On October 20, 2011, Kinder Morgan issued a notice for Open Season on the Trans Mountain Pipeline, seeking oil shipping contracts that could double pipeline capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 600,000 barrels per day. It also opens the door for the completion of the pipeline looping from Edmonton to Greater Vancouver and the expansion of Burnaby’s Westridge Terminal.

According to Kennedy Stewart, “My constituents, as well as communities right across British Columbia, are concerned this project will greatly increase environmental risk while delivering little in the way of benefits. At the very least, they are asking to be fully included in deciding whether or not this expansion should proceed.”

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 For more information, please contact:

Jaclyn Moneypenny, Office of Kennedy Stewart, 613-996-5597 or kennedy.stewart.a2@parl.gc.ca  

Kinder Morgan’s open season call: http://www.kne.com/business/canada/tmx_openseason.cfm  

Video of question to the Minister of Natural Resources: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTxSavNXG9I

Mr. Kennedy Stewart (Burnaby—Douglas, NDP): Mr. Speaker, Kinder Morgan is set to double the capacity of the Trans Mountain Pipeline that runs from Edmonton to Burnaby. Residents and local municipalities are concerned about what this project could mean for the local environment, especially in the wake of the 2007 oil spill that forced the evacuation of hundreds of Burnaby residents and leaked oil into Burrard Inlet. Will the minister agree to full public consultation on this project, including direct talks with affected municipalities and First Nations?

Hon. Joe Oliver (Minister of Natural Resources, CPC): Mr. Speaker, every major project is reviewed by a regulatory agency. Our government respects the regulatory process and that will proceed in every case.