Some concerns remain but proposed West Coast Pipeline to benefit Kamloops-area communities

“The profits from this pipeline will generate billions in revenues over the coming decades for the provincial and federal governments, and will enrich Indigenous communities that choose to partner with us,” Smith said.

“This is transformational wealth, an opportunity neither Canada nor Alberta can afford to leave unrealized.”

Smith added the Alberta government is partnering with the federally owned Trans Mountain Corp. and Calgary-based Pembina Pipeline to build and operate what has officially been labelled the West Coast Pipeline.

The pipeline would closely follow the path of the current Trans Mountain pipeline from Bruderheim, northeast of Edmonton, to a terminal in Delta. It would deliver more than one million barrels per day and see tankers ship it to Asian markets.

Prime Minister Mark Carney said the route makes the most sense given the line already exists.

“This is more than just an accord. It’s also an approach that gives certainty to our businesses to build,” Carney said, noting consultations with First Nations on the new route would begin immediately.

The announcement came hours after Carney announced a separate deal with B.C. that would uphold the existing tanker ban on the province’s northern coast. While Premier David Eby said the deal doesn’t force him to support the project, he conceded that his province wouldn’t fight it in court.

“That’s why this agreement matters. It ensures that the northern tanker ban stays in place, and it ensures that if the pipeline goes ahead, British Columbians are fairly compensated for the environmental risks we would take,” Eby said.

“I’m really glad that the northern tanker ban is staying in place,” added Bass. “That’s something we needed to do. This southern route is the option.”

While the potential economic boost is also welcome news in Clearwater, it could be a case of too much at once. As work on a proposed open-pit copper mine near Vavenby may also get underway around the same time as the pipeline.

“We could potentially have basically a double whammy of what we experienced last time with Trans Mountain and all this could come when we have a regular, non-COVID tourism season for two years in a row,” Clearwater Mayor Merlin Blackwell said.

“This is going to have a lot of people crammed into an area that essentially supports 2,500 people now.”

Blackwell wants there to be more provincial and federal supports announced for things like housing, infrastructure and law enforcement so issues experienced in Clearwater earlier this decade after the COVID-19 pandemic when the Trans Mountain pipeline was being twinned don’t happen again.

“There’s absolutely some excitement in the community about it, but there’s also some trepidation,” Blackwell said. “We have to do better this time. It’s nice that we have more time to plan for this, but there will be winners and losers on this for sure.”

The Kamloops and District Chamber of Commerce expects to have more to say this fall after it completes a survey of its members this summer. However, Executive Director Acacia Pangilinan told CFJC Today there is “no doubt” this pipeline will benefit the regional economy, if it goes ahead.

“It’s important that there is buy-in from communities all along the route,” Pangilinan said. “There are First Nations agreements that will come into play and the environmental impacts so we’re still a long, long way before this becomes a reality.”

“Canada as a nation has been falling behind in its competitiveness and so projects like this really set Canada up for success to reach other markets and so I think on first blush, we’re excited to see what this might do for the economy, but it’s a little early to tell where our members are at.”

“I know it’s going to take a long time,” added Bass. “I probably won’t see it built, but nevertheless there are positive signs, which is a good thing. It gives people a reason to have confidence in Kamloops.”

by Victor Kaisar

Some concerns remain but proposed West Coast Pipeline to benefit Kamloops-area communities

Our Community