Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada, issued a plea November 30 to critics of the company's Edmonton-to-Burnaby pipeline project to protest in a peaceful and lawful manner that will not bring harm to his employees.
Anderson said in a conference call with reporters that Kinder Morgan is "fully and acutely" aware that people have threatened to oppose the $6.8-billion project "at all costs."
"What I say to them is this: Our number one and unwavering priority is the safety of our community, the safety of my staff, our neighbours, our assets and the environment, and we will not compromise that under any condition," said Anderson, noting the company has adhered to all the rules in the regulatory process to get approval from the federal cabinet Tuesday for its 987-kilometre pipeline that will run from Edmonton to Burnaby. "At the end of the day, the [National Energy Board] and the government has said our project is in the interest of Canadians. So I continue to say to those who will continue to oppose to please respect the process, respect the law and, above all, respect the safety of our communities."
Added Anderson: "People may continue to disagree and express their views but do so in a peaceful, lawful manner respecting the processes and the decisions that have been made."
Anderson's plea came less than 48 hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced in Ottawa that the federal cabinet approved Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
The news quickly spread on social media and led to a protest outside the CBC studios in downtown Vancouver, where hundreds of people, including First Nations leaders, marched in opposition to the government's decision.
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, who was arrested in November 2014 on Burnaby Mountain for protesting Kinder Morgan's project, said in a statement Tuesday that he and fellow leaders will do "whatever it takes to stop the pipeline from going through."
Legal action by First Nations and environmentalists is expected in efforts to prevent the project from going ahead. Anderson responded to the likelihood of legal action by saying "we have to take it as it comes and see what's presented to us. We're prepared and ready for challenges that may come."
The new pipeline will almost triple the number of barrels of oil shipped per day from Edmonton to the shores of Burrard Inlet, increasing from 300,000 to 890,000. Tanker traffic will increase seven times what it is now.
Trudeau pointed out that cabinet's approval hinges on Kinder Morgan meeting or exceeding 157 conditions set out by the National Energy Board in May. More than 50 conditions are related to the environment and 53 involve engineering and safety.
Anderson spoke to reporters a half hour before Premier Christy Clark addressed the media in Vancouver for the first time since Trudeau's announcement.
Clark reiterated her government's demand that five conditions be met before she would agree to the project. The premier said all but two of the conditions have been met: She wants more detail on the federal government's recently announced Oceans Protection Plan and clarity on B.C. receiving "a fair share" of the fiscal and economic benefits of Kinder Morgan's project.
"In terms of the other areas, that work is done," she said, referring to conditions that include the provincial government's environmental review process and concerns related to Aboriginal and treaty rights
Clark told reporters the conditions are "a pathway" to her government saying "yes" to the project. She said she was confident the conditions could be met before the May 9, 2017 provincial election.
"I believe that we have to find ways to balance resource development and job creation in this country, with environmental protection," the premier said. "And I don't think there is anywhere in the world that does it as well as we do here, in B.C."
In a conversation she had with Trudeau Tuesday, Clark said, she invited the prime minister to visit B.C. and explain to residents the rationale for approving Kinder Morgan's project.
"I think we would all look forward to welcoming him here to make sure British Columbians understand why his government made this decision yesterday," the premier said.
Trudeau said Tuesday the Kinder Morgan project will create 15,000 construction jobs and benefit Canadians, particularly those out-of-work Albertans in the energy sector.
"If I thought this project was unsafe for the B.C. coast, I would reject it," the prime minister said.
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