The Council of Canadians delivered 8,000+ petitions to the head office of the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) in Toronto today calling on them to not invest in the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain tar sands pipeline.
Toronto-based Council of Canadians organizer Mark Calzavara made the delivery dressed in a toxic hazard outfit made to appear like it was smeared with oil.
Calzavara says, “The Council of Canadians emailed and phoned the CPPIB months ago for the first time, and they promised they would get back to us with a response, but we have yet to hear anything from them. Today we are visiting their office to get a response and tell the CPP Investment Board loudly and clearly not to invest in the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.”
This delivery of petitions was generated through this online action alert.
It states, “Following reports that Kinder Morgan has started talks with the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB) about investing in the Trans Mountain pipeline, I am writing to urge you to reject the proposal and refuse to invest in this destructive pipeline project. …As a CPP contributor, I urge the CPPIB to take a principled stance and publicly refuse to invest any money in Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline.”
Shares in Kinder Morgan Canada began to be traded on the Toronto Stock Exchange today.
The Canadian Press reports, “Kinder Morgan says it will proceed with the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion as long as it secures satisfactory financing for the project through its initial public offering. …Kinder Morgan says it’s expecting to begin construction for the project in September, with a completion date set for December 2019.”
The pipeline is opposed by 59 First Nations, 22 municipalities, and hundreds of thousands of individuals.
Yesterday, the Green Party announced that it would back an NDP minority government in British Columbia. While the details of that agreement have not been announced yet, both parties are firmly opposed to the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
Speaking from Rome this morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau commented, “The decision we took on the Trans Mountain pipeline was based on facts and evidence on what is in the best interests of Canadians and indeed, all of Canada. Regardless of the change in government in British Columbia or anywhere, the facts and evidence do not change.”
#StopKM
