After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!
This Article is part of the Tar Sands Reporting Project special report See the full report

MP Kennedy Stewart urges Kinder Morgan president to "cease activities" on Burnaby Mountain

Left: Kennedy Stewart right: Kinder Morgan pres. Ian Anderson
Left: NDP MP Kennedy Stewart right: Kinder Morgan Canada President Ian Anderson

Burnaby-Douglas MP Kennedy Stewart wrote a forceful letter to Kinder Morgan Canada President urging him to "cease activities on Burnaby Mountain".

The Texas-based pipeline giant's workers are reportedly on Burnaby Mountain now, after police arrested 14 protesters who have set up camp on site to prevent drilling and surveying work for its proposed pipeline expansion.  

"Your actions are causing unnecessary suffering to Burnaby residents," Stewart wrote, saying the company "clearly does not have the moral or social license to continue these activities in our public park."

Stewart also referred to Kinder Morgan's recent civil suit against five citizens (including SFU professors Stephen Collis and Lynne Quarmby, and another university administration worker). Critics denounced the multi-million dollar lawsuit against civilians as 'bullying' against local residents exercising their democratic rights.

"It was your choice to pursue legal action and that decision has lead to conflict and tension in our community and has now resulted in multiple arrests," Stewart wrote. "Your actions will undoubtedly have long term negative impacts in Burnaby.

He said his office has been "flooded with calls, emails and visits from local residents" who are opposed to your work on Burnaby Mountain, including cutting down trees, drilling holes, and blocking their access to a public park.

"I have visited the site many times and seen the damage your contactors have already done to our cherished conservation area. I also know many of the protestors by name and know they are good, law-abiding citizens and homeowners who have been driven to protest by your rush to complete tests and by the deeply-flawed National Energy Board process." 

Kinder Morgan's plan to triple the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline to carry 890,000 barrels of bitumen daily from northern Alberta to Burnaby has sparked strong citizen opposition across British Columbia. Although the proposal will bring jobs and millions in tax revenues to B.C., according to the company, critics say the benefits of the Kinder Morgan pipeline far outweigh the environmental and social risks of increasing oil tankers through the Burrard Inlet six to seven-fold in order to export bitumen to the U.S. and Asia. 

 

Kennedy Stewart Letter to Kinder Morgan Canada president November 2014

 

More in News

Views from a refugee camp: Who gets into heaven?

I have just returned to Vancouver Island from Greek refugee camps where I met a Yazidi man named Jason who told me about his escape from ISIS in Iraq.   His story begins on a desert road where a...

Vancouver's bicycle sharing grows as 15 new stations installed

Mobi bicycle by Shaw Go in Vancouver. Photo by Christopher Porter from Flickr Creative Commons

International Women's Day Concert celebrates female musicians who turned tragedy into triumph

Every March 8, on International Women's Day, we hear about the achievements of brilliant, talented women around the world. But how often do we learn about the physical and mental disabilities or...
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.