Tsleil-Waututh Nation is dismayed at Kinder Morgan’s announcement today that it is increasing the capacity of its proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline project from 750,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day.
“We are disappointed by Kinder Morgan’s announcement today, but not surprised,” says Chief Justin George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation. “This shows that there is no limit to what Kinder Morgan will push for. They are taking full advantage of Prime Minister Harper’s omnibus budget bills, C38 and C45.
“Once this infrastructure is put in place, where will it end?” continues George. “How many more tankers will this mean for Burrard Inlet? Will Kinder Morgan push the Port to dredge under the Second Narrows to allow for supertankers? Will they push for more than one million barrels per day? Two million? Citizens need to ask some serious questions of their leaders before this pipeline is approved.”
“In their announcement today, Kinder Morgan said that Trans Mountain has an existing footprint, established relationships, and a superb safety record. We dispute all of those claims,” says Carleen Thomas, elected councilor, Tsleil-Waututh Nation. “This is a brand new pipeline following a new route; the existing pipeline was built without First Nations consent; and there have been 78 spills since 1951. The largest of these spills have taken place since Kinder Morgan took over the line in 2005.
“We live in one of the most beautiful places in the world, and we must protect it,” continues Thomas. “We encourage everyone to raise their voices in opposition to this pipeline. The risk is too great to accept. We will be idle no more.”
Tsleil-Waututh is adamantly opposed to Kinder Morgan’s proposal to build a new pipeline to bring crude oil/bitumen to foreign markets through Burrard Inlet and the Salish Sea. The proposal would see the transport of crude oil expanded from its present level of approximately 350,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day. The Nation has experienced the results of crude oil handling and refining on Burrard Inlet for a number of decades. The Nation is expecting government-to-government consultation on this project.
