The expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans-Mountain pipeline, which exports Alberta crude oil by tanker through the Port of Vancouver, was a high-profile issue in the recent B.C. election. With the election results still unclear and the possibility of the Green party and NDP, who are both against the pipeline, forming a government, the issue continues to weigh on the province’s political future.
Premier Christy Clark agreed to support the federally approved project in exchange for Ottawa’s commitment to a substantially upgraded emergency spill-response plan and financial compensation from Kinder Morgan that would see the province paid as much as $1 billion over the next two decades. This didn’t appease spill-fearing Vancouverites who shifted their votes to NDP Leader John Horgan after he vowed to use “every tool in the toolbox” to fight the project. Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson also supported Horgan, stating that expanding Kinder Morgan’s shipping traffic from five to 35 tankers per month isn’t worth the “disastrous risks’’ of a spill.
Gwyn Morgan – Special to Financial Post – May 18, 2017.
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