Vancouver – The BC Chamber of Commerce is pleased to see the federal government give its stamp of approval on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
“This project is a big economic win for B.C. and for Canada,” said Val Litwin, BC Chamber president, and CEO. “It’s not just the resource development sector that has cause to celebrate, many small and medium-sized businesses will see tremendous growth in the demand for goods, services and local workers throughout the lifetime of this project.”
The expansion represents a $6.8 billion investment that will create 800,000 person years of employment and provide billions of dollars in new revenue for all levels of government. Employment and training programs will also increase opportunities specifically for members of the Aboriginal community.
Litwin said that the long-term benefit of this project expands beyond just the oil and gas sector.
“This decision carries into the broader vision of transitioning Canada to a low-carbon economy, where major investments such as the TMX project will support the governments’ ability to invest resources in clean, renewable technologies,” said Litwin.
The project underwent over three years of rigorous consultation and examination and is subject to 157 conditions to ensure that the highest standards of safety and environmental protection are met.
“We agree with Prime Minister Trudeau rigorous debate, science and evidence prevailed when making the right decision for Canada,” said Litwin. “Trans Mountain will not only support the competitiveness of the Canadian economy by opening up our oil to international markets, it will reaffirm B.C.’s reputation as a jurisdiction that is open for investment.”
