VANCOUVER — Rallies were held Saturday in five B.C. cities to support the Trans Mountain pipeline project, as the deadline looms this week for Kinder Morgan to decide whether to build its $7.4-billion pipeline expansion.
A group consisting of workers from the resource and business sectors called Suits and Boots held demonstrations in Langley, Kitimat, Fort St. John, Fort Nelson and Smithers.
Speakers at the Langley event, which drew a crowd of about 150 people, included Liberal MLA Laurie Throness and Cheam First Nations Chief Ernie Crey, an outspoken advocate for the project.
The rallies were held to bolster support for Kinder Morgan ahead of the Texas-based company’s Friday deadline to receive certainty that the project can be built despite strong opposition in B.C.
“These are people who want responsible economic development in this province,” said Throness, at the Langley rally. He emphasized the National Energy Board has determined the development to be safe.
“We want to tell the premier [John Horgan] to stop contradicting himself in lawsuits for and against the pipeline and to shake hands with [Alberta] Premier [Rachel] Notley and to say let’s bring responsible economic development to this province,” he said.
Suits and Boots founder and investment banker Rick Peterson said they want to send a message to the government of B.C. that responsible resource development is vital to creating a healthy economy and securing jobs.
“Our goal is to stand up and make our voices heard at a really important time,” he said at the Langley event.
He said if Kinder Morgan pulls out of the expansion project it will be bad news for Canada.
“Kinder Morgan has gone through a deep regulatory process. They’ve ticked off all the boxes. They’ve won 16 straight court decisions.
“If we can’t complete a project like this one, what message does that send to people looking to invest in Canada?”
Crey told the crowd that most British Columbians, including thousands of First Nations members, are in full support of the project.
He said that young First Nations people are facing high unemployment rates and they need decent paying jobs that the resource sector can provide.
On Thursday, the B.C. Supreme Court dismissed challenges by the Squamish Nation and the City of Vancouver that had argued there was inadequate consultation during B.C.’s environmental approval of the project, which took place under the former B.C. Liberal government.
The federal government has said it is taking action to enable the project to go ahead but has not disclosed details of continuing discussions.
The project would triple the capacity of Trans Mountain pipeline, and give Alberta marine access to ship oil to markets in California and Asia.
It will also increase tanker traffic in Juan de Fuca Strait and Burrard Inlet.
Earlier this year, Premier Horgan’s government raised concerns about the shipment of heavy oil from Alberta through B.C., and filed a reference case with the B.C. Court of Appeal to determine whether B.C. can restrict oil transport and bring in new spill regulations.
Pipeline protesters have been blocking Kinder Morgan’s Burnaby work site for months and holding massive weekend rallies and marches that draw thousands of people. In March, Metro First Nations built a wood-frame “Watch House” along the pipeline route.
Dozens of protesters have been arrested at the site including two federal MPs — Elizabeth May and Kennedy Stewart.
