By Greg Fry

Kamloops MLAs say pipeline delay putting hundreds of local jobs at risk

Apr 9, 2018 | 11:44 AM

KAMLOOPS — Both Kamloops MLAs are expressing grave concern following Kinder Morgan’s announcement Sunday that it is halting all non-essential work and spending on its multi-billion dollar pipeline expansion due to legal challenges put forth by the B.C. government.

“It’s very disapppointing. I think we see communities all the way through the North Thompson that have agreements with Kinder Morgan. They were anticipating a surge in activity,” said Kamloops-North Thompson MLA Peter Milobar. “We have First Nations that have economic agreements with Kinder Morgan as well and all those are now threatened by an activist minister who’s refusing to acknowledge the constitution of Canada.”

“I think this overall situation highlights just how inept John Horgan and the NDP-Green coalition government really is,” added Kamloops South-Thompson MLA Todd Stone. Here is a situation where we have a project which is within federal jurisdiction, that has been approved by the federal government to move forward and is now being thrown into doubt.”

Asked about the environmental concerns the twinning of the pipeline would have regarding tanker traffic, Milobar said protestors need to look at what’s already happening.

“Those same people don’t seem to have a problem with over 500 tankers a year coming down the exact same shipping corridor from Alaska into Washington State to be processed there. And so this is really about how do you safely get our product to a world market? Clogging up a rail line with a commodity that can be moved by pipeline which then puts pressure on grain and two-by-fours and everything else trying to get to market across Canada and into ports does not seem like it’s going to help the economy.”

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Alberta Premier Rachel Notley noted Alberta is considering taking on an equity stake in the pipeline if Kinder Morgan investors are backing away because of uncertainty around the project. She also warned the B.C. NDP government there will be economic consequences for B.C. if the project does not go forward.