Citing environmental and economic risks, at least 27 North Shore council and mayoralty candidates opposed Kinder Morgan’s planned pipeline expansion in a survey by environmental group No Oil Pipeline Expansion.
If the enhancement of the 981-kilometre Trans Mountain pipeline running between Edmonton, Alta. and Burnaby is approved, Kinder Morgan can nearly triple oil exports from 300,000 to 890,000 barrels a day. Traffic in the harbour would increase from five to 34 oil tankers each month.
Of 28 respondents, only City of North Vancouver council candidate Iani Makris refrained from answering the question on whether he supports the expansion. “I know that this is an issue that I plan to be involved and proactive about,” he wrote.
NOPE’s survey asked candidates if they believe the ongoing National Energy Board hearings will be fair. The questionnaire also inquired if an increase in transportation of diluted bitumen is “consistent with your vision of a green and healthy community?”
The strong currents below the Ironworkers Memorial Second Narrows Crossing may exacerbate the challenge of dealing with a spill, according to City of North Vancouver Coun. Pam Bookham. “I toured the Western Canada Marine Response (Corp.’s) facility in Burnaby,” she wrote. “I left with little confidence in our ability to handle a spill. ... The technology does not exist to deal with the product.”
The NEB hearings should feature experts in toxicology, stated city council candidate Ali Mallakin, who expressed concerns about degrading petroleum following a spill.
“The long term effect of these types of contaminations may be seen in the genetically affected individuals in the future.”
Several candidates offered a negative appraisal of the NEB hearings.
While District of West Vancouver Coun. Nora Gambioli stated that the hearings have been “flawed from the beginning,” District of North Vancouver council candidate Len Laycock offered a harsher appraisal, dubbing the hearings “a sham.”
“The next generation will label this a crime,” Laycock stated.
West Vancouver council candidate Max Clough concurred.
“Pipelines are being forced down our throats,” Clough wrote.
Both City of North Vancouver Mayor Darrell Mussatto and challenger Kerry Morris opposed the expansion.
“The NEB will do as Mr. Harper tells them,” wrote Morris.
Morris, who worked for Imperial Oil before starting his own business as an energy consultant, said the project’s financial liabilities amount to an unreasonable burden for B.C. taxpayers.
Council candidate Tony Valente agreed, citing Kinder Morgan’s inability to compensate homeowners in the event of a large spill.
“That means costs will fall on all levels of government and therefore taxpayers. This is unacceptable.”
District of North Vancouver council candidate Amelia Hill noted the potential for environmental devastation at Maplewood Mudflats and Indian Arm.
City of North Vancouver Couns. Craig Keating and Linda Buchanan offered nearly identical responses, each noting the lack of discussion centring on an energy strategy that, “allows us to transition off fossil fuels so we can meet our necessary (greenhouse gas emission) reduction goals.”
The opposition to a liquefied natural gas plant southwest of downtown Squamish was similarly uniform, according to a survey by non-profit environmental group Propeller Strategy.
Out of 31 politicians in six municipalities surrounding Howe Sound, only two Squamish council candidates wrote in favour of the plant moving forward.
Gambioli and council candidates Mallakin, Carolanne Reynolds and Michael Evison each opposed the project.
West Vancouver council unanimously called for a ban of tankers in Howe Sound in September.