Activists call on insurance firms to stop coverage of Trans Mountain pipeline
VANCOUVER — A coalition of environmental and Indigenous groups is calling on insurance companies to drop or refuse to provide coverage of the Trans Mountain pipeline, although they concede its lead liability insurer is planning to continue coverage.
The coalition of 32 groups says in a news release if it can convince insurers to bow out of covering the pipeline and its recently approved expansion project beyond an Aug. 31 renewal date, Ottawa will be forced to self-insure, which will put public dollars at risk.
In a copy of a letter sent to 27 insurers, the activists ask them to avoid the “reputational and financial risk” of supporting the pipeline from Edmonton to the West Coast in view of the institutions’ commitments to support the Paris climate change agreement and Indigenous rights.
Only 12 of the companies responded to the letter, the coalition says, with most refusing to discuss their dealings with specific clients.