Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Dylana Milobar

TRANS MOUNTAIN PIPELINE

Clearwater relieved to hear of Trans Mountain pipeline expansion approval

Jun 19, 2019 | 5:05 PM

CLEARWATER — After nearly a year of work stoppage for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, on Tuesday the project was approved for the second time.

With the expansion given the green light, Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell says the District will be given a hefty financial boost from a community benefits agreement with the Trans Mountain twinning.

“About $350,000-to-$400,000 depending on how you slice and dice it,” Blackwell said. “The tax benefit for Clearwater is between $400,000 and $600,000, depending on how it rolls out and what actually lays on the ground going forward in the future. So that’s a huge kick up for Clearwater for both of those things.”

TNRD Electoral Area “A” Director Carol Schaffer says the Wells Gray area also has an agreement, and will be getting $175,000 when project construction comes through.

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“When they start digging, then we’ll get that money,” she explains, “and it’s going to be divided by Birch Island, Blackpool and Vavenby, because those will be the three areas affected by Trans Mountain coming through.”

On top of revenue sharing agreements, both Blackwell and Schaffer expect when Trans Mountain starts construction, a high chance for local hiring will bring major economic benefits.

“The obvious benefit for Trans Mountain is Clearwater was going to be a 600-person average camp town. If you hire 100 local workers, you only have to build a camp for 500 people. Or less, considering on rental sharing or things like that,” Blackwell says. “And all the expenses of a camp situation just disappear from the equation. So that’s a money benefit for Trans Mountain, and it’s a money benefit for the people of Clearwater obviously.”