THE District of West Vancouver voted to oppose Kinder Morgan's plans to expand its Trans Mountain pipeline at a council meeting Monday, despite the objections of the mayor.
The Texas oil giant is currently planning a $4.1billion expansion of its 60 year-old pipeline, which carries crude oil from Alberta's tar sands to the Westridge Terminal in Burnaby - across Burrard Inlet from the North Shore. Currently beginning its field study, Kinder Morgan has indicated it plans to make its official application in late 2013.
"There's just nothing in it for West Vancouverites but grief," said Coun. Mary-Ann Booth.
A small gain in jobs is not worth the risk of an oil spill, said Booth, who cited the 2010 British Petroleum oil spill's lingering effects on New Orleans to explain her opposition.
Booth was supported by several councillors, some of whom said the Conservative federal government has not earned trust on environmental issues.
"I'm not confident habitat will be protected," said Coun. Trish Panz.
Panz said she opposed the expansion on behalf of many stewardship groups dedicated to protecting the community's shores.
With tanker traffic in the Burrard Inlet set to increase by approximately 500 per cent in the event the expansion is approved, the environment will be damaged even without a spill, according to Coun. Craig Cameron.
"Our environment is definitely going to suffer if everything works well," he said.
Grey water and heavy diesel particulate would likely accumulate along the shoreline, according to Cameron.
The federal government has been "falling all over itself," to reduce its environmental regulations and enforcement, Cameron said.
But dismissing the national and regional benefits of the bulked-up pipeline before the application has even been formalized is a simplistic reaction, said Mayor Michael Smith.
"Before (Kinder Morgan has) even had a chance to come forward and be heard, we've already passed a motion," said Smith. "It's a good thing that the West Vancouver council of 1912 didn't speak against oil."
Without oil, residents would be lighting lamps with whale blubber and commuting by canoe, according to Smith.
The mayor called on residents to wake up to the severity of the global economic climate.
"Somebody has to create economic wealth to make the wheels go round," he said. "I'm not even speaking in favour of this Kinder Morgan proposal because I don't know enough about it."
The motion to oppose the pipeline passed 5-1, with Smith as the dissenting voice.
Coun. Nora Gambioli was absent from the meeting.
As a result of the motion, Smith will write letters to Prime Minister Stephen Harper, Premier Christy Clark, the federal and provincial environment ministers, the National Energy Board, and the president of Kinder Morgan stating West Vancouver's opposition.
Council is also requesting Kinder Morgan be obligated to provide financial security for West Vancouver to protect the municipality in the event of a worst case oil spill.
