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By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Trans Mountain approval a ‘cake and eat it too’ plan

Jun 19, 2019 | 12:18 AM

KAMLOOPS — THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING surprising about the federal government’s announcement that the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is back on track.

Not surprising that it was approved a second time, and not surprising that it continues to be a source of disunity across the country. The same groups and individuals as before are all for it, the same ones as before are against it.

There will be appeals and protests but the feds say construction could re-start sometime this summer. In the meantime, may the rhetoric be intelligent, may the protests be peaceful.

The NDP and Greens are expressing the same indignation and fears over the perceived environmental consequences as before.

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Alberta Premier Jason Kenny and federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer can only complain that the project has taken too long.

It’s all politics.

As he announced the approval, Justin Trudeau used an old key message that just might have some brand new currency in the B.C. Interior. Threading the needle between the pros and cons of the project, he’s long maintained that building Trans Mountain and protecting the environment can be done in balance.

For the Interior of B.C., whether or not you support the expansion in principle, Trudeau’s version of reality comes at a good time. With all the troubles in the forest industry, with mill after mill slowing down or shutting down, the pipeline offers consolation for some workers over the next while.

The immediate prospect of jobs — even short-term jobs — is more attractive right now than environmental worries.

That’s why wrapping them up together in a “we can have our cake and eat it too” message will resonate with a lot of people right now. It’s what they want and need to hear.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.