Vancouver – Premier Christy Clark made a statement on the Federal Government’s decision to green light the twinning of the Kinder Morgan pipeline from Edmonton through BC, the Fraser Valley and onto Burnaby.
Her catchphrase at her media avail was “The Road To Yes”, referring to the five point principals that had to be in place to satisfy BC’s needs and concerns abut the pipeline.
She was adamant that BC had to be on the receiving end of jobs and other economic and environmental benefits.
She focused on spill prevention on the Coast but didn’t address Fraser Valley concerns about the Chilliwack Aquifer, construction through the Valley including what is believed to be, cutting through the now defunct Minter Gardens in Rosedale and spill concerns in Sumas.
Clark wants the Prime Minister to come to BC and explain in detail, the reasons for the decision.
This is the official statement:
Premier Christy Clark issued the following statement on the federal government’s pipeline decisions:
“Yesterday afternoon, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced his decision to reject Northern Gateway and approve the Kinder Morgan Expansion project.
“For four and a half years, British Columbia’s position has been principled, clear, and consistent. Any heavy oil project must meet our five conditions:
1. Receive regulatory approvals
2. World-leading marine-spill response
3. World-leading land-spill response
4. Indigenous participation
5. A fair share of benefits for British Columbia
“For the past four and a half years, we have said we would measure the project against these five clear principles, and that for the expansion of any heavy oil movement through British Columbia, these conditions are the path to get to yes.
“We set these conditions to ensure the interests of British Columbians would come first, and be protected.
“We are pleased with the progress we have made. Recently, in response to our work and our consistent position, the federal government announced a new Ocean Protection Plan to protect our coast. They are very close to meeting our five conditions, but we still need some details on the plan to be certain our coast is protected, and there is still some work to do to ensure that British Columbians get a fair share of the jobs and benefits from this project.
“I told Prime Minister Trudeau I look forward to him coming to British Columbia to share his thinking behind his decision, to tell British Columbians directly about the values and principles that guided him in coming to this decision. I stressed the importance of him coming to our province to talk about why this is in the national interest.
“I look forward to welcoming him to British Columbia very soon.”
