The Globe and Mail reports, “Built more than 60 years ago, the 1,150-kilometre Trans Mountain pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby transports about 300,000 barrels of oil a day. The $5.4-billion expansion would add 980 kilometres of new pipe that would nearly triple the capacity to 890,000 barrels. Tanker traffic would increase to 34 loadings a month from five.”
The news report adds, “The flood of calls from angry constituents to Kennedy Stewart’s office this week is proof that the National Energy Board (NEB) has failed to give enough notice of when people must apply to speak at hearings on (this proposed) pipeline expansion, the Burnaby-Douglas MP says. …The application period opened on Jan. 15 and will close on Feb. 12.”
To help promote participation in these hearings:
1- “Mr. Stewart’s office on Monday sent about 25,000 automated phone messages and 30,000 notices to inform constituents the window to sign up for the hearings is closing. …By midday Wednesday, Mr. Stewart said more than 1,000 people had called his office, upset that they did not know about the deadline and asking for help to apply.”
2- “Mr. Stewart says his office has brought in extra staff members to help constituents apply.” The Burnaby NewsLeader has previously reported, “Stewart’s constituency office will be converted into a registration centre for the NEB process, with additional computers and staff brought in to assist people in applying. …His office staff will help people articulate how they qualify to participate, volunteer lawyers will be available to offer advice, and there will be assistance in applying for NEB funding for participants, to hire their own lawyers, for example.”
3- “Mr. Kennedy will hold a meeting at Burnaby’s Confederation Community Centre on Saturday from 3 to 5 p.m. to provide instructions on how to get involved in the hearings.”
The Council of Canadians first voiced its opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline in August 2011.
Today’s article notes, “If approved, the expansion is expected to be operational by late 2017.”
Further reading
The Council of Canadians opposes the Trans Mountain pipeline
February 12 deadline for comment on Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
