Burrard Inlet’s Tsleil-Waututh Nation said Tuesday it is vehemently opposed to Kinder Morgan’s plans to expand its Trans Mountain oil pipeline.
The project, which would allow for more oil to be transported from Northern Alberta to Burrard inlet, would allegedly increase the risk of oil spills in the First Nation’s traditional territory.
“The risks associated with the Kinder Morgan project are too great to accept,” said Chief Justin George.
“As a result of industrial expansion over the last century, my nation has seen the quality of its resources decline to a point where our elders can no longer teach their grandchildren how to harvest traditional marine foods, such as clams, that have sustained our people for thousands of years.”
The Tsleil-Waututh pointed to a 2007 construction accident in North Burnaby that resulted in a large oil spill that dumped more than 1,000 barrels of crude into Burrard Inlet.
The opposition comes amid ongoing controversy surrounding oil pipeline projects in Western Canada and the U.S.
Enbridge’s massive Northern Gateway project, which would ferry oil from Edmonton to B.C.’s north coast and on to markets in Asia, continues to find little support among communities along its proposed route.
Environmental activists in the U.S. also continue to oppose TransCanada Corp.’s $13 billion Keystone XL pipeline, which would transport Alberta oil to the Texas Gulf Coast.
And, in Richmond, residents continue to voice opposition to a proposed jet fuel pipeline that would serve Vancouver International Airport. (See “Not in our backyard” – issue 1130;June 21-27.)
Joel McKay
@jmckaybiv