The Kinder Morgan pipeline review panel announced today their community meetings schedule to hear from communities impacted by the potential pipeline and tanker expansion project. Community groups, First Nations, and environmental groups expect the meetings will be highly attended by supporters whose voices have been shut out of previous processes.
“We’re seeing a massive amount of energy from our community in opposition to the Kinder Morgan pipeline,” said Rodrigo Samayoa, Climate Campaigner for Leadnow. “Thousands of people have told us they plan to attend these public meetings across BC to show the government that this dangerous and unnecessary project has no social license.”
“People are ready,” said Ruth Walmsley, spokesperson for Burnaby Residents Opposing Kinder Morgan Expansion (BROKE), “to talk about what was specifically excluded from the NEB process: impacts on marine life, lack of First Nations consultation, and upstream climate impacts.”
Turnout is expected to be high among those whose livelihoods depend on a healthy coast, and who see their industry or job impacted by seven times more tanker traffic and what research shows will be an inevitable spill in the Salish Sea.
“BC’s vision for its magnificent coast does not include re-industrialization of the Salish Sea and becoming one of the world’s biggest fossil fuel export corridors. This is the wrong direction for our region and we’re confident these meetings will show the Trudeau government he has no social license for this project.” said Christianne Wilhelmson, Executive Director at Georgia Strait Alliance.
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Meeting dates and locations – see more on the Ministerial Panel’s website
July 7: Calgary AB
July 8: Edmonton AB
July 9: Jasper AB
July 19: Kamloops BC
July 20: Kamloops BC
July 21: Chilliwack BC
July 26: Abbotsford BC
July 27: Langley BC
July 28: Langley BC
August 9: Burnaby BC
August 10: Burnaby BC
August 11: Burnaby BC
August 16: Vancouver BC
August 17: Vancouver BC
August 18: Vancouver BC
August 23: Victoria BC
August 24: Victoria BC