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Local residents divided on second pipeline in valley
The Kamloops survey is part of the continuing efforts by the NDP to consult widely with British Many residents of the North Columbians on the new Trans Thompson Valley participated Mountain oil pipeline. An identiin a telephone survey conducted recently by Kennedy Stewart, MP for cal phone survey of almost 40,000 residents in Stewart’s riding of Burnaby-Douglas. Burnaby-Douglas, through which The survey asked people’s opinthe new pipeline is also planned to ions about Kinder Morgan’s plans to pass, showed that 72 per cent of twin its Trans Mountain pipeline. Stewart, who is the NDP associate those with an opinion opposed the expansion. A province-wide phone critic for natural resources, released opinion poll conducted by the Mustel the survey results on Monday. group showed 60 per cent of British They show that 55 per cent of Columbians with an opinion oppose those residents who expressed an the new pipeline. opinion support the Kinder Morgan recently pipeline-twinning ended a notice of open season project while 45 per cent oppose it. These results show - which started October 20, 2011 and ended February 16, The survey was Kinder Morgan will 2012 - that secured binding conducted between and 20-year transportaFeb. 21 and 23 and have a lot of work 15tion agreements with domesinvolved contacttic and foreign oil refining to do ... ing nearly 30,000 companies. Kamloops area Kennedy Stewart The oil pipeline company households. Over received a sufficient amount 4,000 households of commercial interest during provided a response. its open season, meaning that “These results it will prove forward in its show Kinder Morgan plans to fully twin the Trans will have a lot of Mountain pipeline. work to do before they build a new Construction on the Trans 300,000 barrel per day oil pipeline Mountain pipeline began in February, though the North Thompson Valley 1952, and its first shipment of crude and beneath the Thompson River,” oil arrived in Burnaby in October, said Stewart. “What is most disap1953. pointing is that the Conservative Trans Mountain has been owned government has already decided to and operated by Kinder Morgan unconditionally support this new Canada Inc. since 2005. The pipepipeline before the proposal is even line is 1156 km long, traveling from submitted for review to the National Edmonton to Greater Vancouver and Energy Board. We find this rash the Puget Sound. response unacceptable. The NDP The present pipeline had a capacwill continue to provide balanced ity of about 300,000 barrels per day. information to affected residents and Doubling it would bring that capacity meaningfully consult them as this up to 600,000 barrels per day or more. expansion proposal pushes ahead.”
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Benefitting others Calvin Lutz plays the harmonica during a benefit concert held on Friday, Feb. 24, in Blackpool Hall to help a local resident who is suffering from cancer. For more about the story, see page A10 inside. Photo by Keith McNeill
McLeod disappointed with phone survey KEITH MCNEILL Cathy McLeod wasn’t too impressed with a telephone survey her fellow M.P., Kennedy Stewart, conducted in her riding recently. The survey asked people their opinions on Kinder Morgan’s proposal to double its Trans Mountain pipeline. “His survey was hardly scientific,” said the KamloopsThompson-Shuswap federal representative. “A robo-call is not a very scientific process. I had people call my office, asking what’s going on. Many of them just hung up.” McLeod also was unhappy
with a comment in Stewart’s media release that the Conservative government has already decided to unconditionally support the second pipeline even before the proposal is submitted to the National Energy Board. “I think his comments were out of line,” she said. “He’s making comments even before the application is made. I find it a little bit irresponsible.” McLeod said that, even though Trans Mountain runs through the middle of her riding, the pipeline has not been an issue until now. “It has not been on the top of the issues, but with the controversies over Enbridge and Keystone,
people have been wondering how it all fits together,” the local M.P. said. Many Kamloops residents are not even aware the pipeline runs through their neighborhoods, she said, although she doubted that was the case in the North Thompson. McLeod felt the process should be allowed to run its course. People should wait until the facts are in before making decisions. “Jobs are critical throughout our communities,” said the M.P. “If we can meet solid environmental standards, we need to take advantage of these opportunities.”
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