Tag Archive for: pipelines

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Irresponsible Ottawa bailout changes nothing; this pipeline will never be built

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 29, 2018

Sierra Club BC released the following statement from campaigns director Caitlyn Vernon in response to today’s federal government announcement about the Kinder Morgan pipeline and tankers project:

“Against all logic, knowing the multitude of risks to investors and to the B.C. coast and economy, Prime Minister Trudeau has chosen to double down on this dangerous pipeline and the oil tankers that come with it.

“It’s outrageous that Trudeau is using public funds to bail out a multinational corporation when we could create more jobs by investing in building a clean energy economy instead.

“Investors have been shunning Kinder Morgan’s pipedream and Kinder Morgan has successfully blackmailed the federal government into providing an exit strategy.

“Kinder Morgan is laughing their way to the bank, and Canadian taxpayers have just been saddled with an expensive and outdated project that won’t get built. For Ottawa to pour billions into an asset that no one else wants to own is a monumental folly that flies in the face of all the evidence.

“The message from Ottawa is that a tarsands pipeline and tankers are more important than endangered orca whales, the hundred thousand jobs that depend on a healthy coast and our climate commitments.

“Despite the political posturing, the future of this pipeline and tankers project is not solely up to the federal government. The rights of First Nations have been recognized by the Canadian courts, the Canadian constitution and the United Nations. Multiple Indigenous legal challenges are still outstanding and can stop this project.

“Now the real fight begins, and the Trudeau government is about to find out what BC made of. The Prime Minister has underestimated the degree to which British Columbians love this coast and will do what it takes to protect it.

“By going into business as a pipeline owner, aiding and abetting the expansion of the tarsands, Trudeau is leaving a legacy of severe climate change impacts to our children and grandchildren, not to mention the inevitable oil spills that will wreak havoc on B.C. coast and economy.

“It’s the height of irresponsibility. This is our home. We won’t allow this pipeline to be built.”

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Contact:
Caitlyn Vernon
Campaigns Director
Sierra Club BC
C: (250)896-3500

caitlyn@sierraclub.bc.ca

Squamish ruling lets B.C. government off hook, but Kinder Morgan fight far from over

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 24, 2018

Sierra Club BC released the following statement from conservation and climate campaigner Mark Worthing in response to today’s Squamish Nation court ruling:

 

“Today’s decision is disappointing. The courts have let the province off the hook when it comes to respect for Indigenous rights.

“Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and oil tanker project still faces significant risks, including vibrant ground resistance and numerous legal challenges in the Federal Court of Appeal from Sḵwx̱wú7mesh Sníchim (Squamish Nation), other First Nations, local governments, and environmental advocacy groups.

“The National Energy Board review of Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and tanker project was widely criticized for failures in process, limiting of participation, lack of accountability, inadequate consultation with First Nations, and failure to evaluate the project with regard to Canada’s domestic and international commitments to climate action. The previous B.C. government used this discredited process as the basis for their approval.

“It is extremely unfortunate that the current provincial government chose to defend the previous government’s approach to Indigenous consultation in this case.

“The current B.C. and Canadian governments have committed to implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This court ruling represents the bottom of the barrel in terms of an effort to engage in a meaningful way with Indigenous rights.

“The Squamish Nation has 30 days to decide whether to appeal today’s decision. Sierra Club BC stands firmly behind the Nation’s continued fight for their rights and their home.”

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Contact:

Tim Pearson
Communications Director
Sierra Club BC
(250) 896-1556
tim@sierraclub.bc.ca

Ottawa’s Kinder Morgan bailout plans cynical, ignore Indigenous opposition

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 16, 2018

 

Sierra Club BC released the following statement from conservation and climate campaigner Mark Worthing in response to the federal government’s announcement that it will indemnify Kinder Morgan against risks involved in building the Trans Mountain Pipeline:

“The federal government is trying to create the illusion that the BC government is the sole cause of investor uncertainty, which is completely false.

“In doing so, the reality of Indigenous rights and title have been erased from discussion. This is cynical politics of the highest order and appears to be setting up BC taxpayers to bear the financial brunt of any potential NAFTA complaint that may be brought by Kinder Morgan.

“Reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission have been cast aside.

“A promise to reduce fossil fuel subsidies has been turned on its head, with what amounts to a massive subsidy to Kinder Morgan.

“The Canadian government’s announcement to indemnify a risky fossil fuel project is akin to playing poker with the public pocket book. This move is a slap in the face to Canadians and marks a new low in the dark marriage between corporations and the state.

“Trudeau may think writing a blank cheque to Kinder Morgan will eliminate the political risk for investors, but many other risks remain, foremost among them Indigenous opposition.

“People-powered, Indigenous-led resistance in the courts, in the streets and on the land will continue to grow stronger the more Ottawa tries to ram this pipeline and tanker project through.”

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Contact:

Mark Worthing
Conservation and Climate Campaigner
Sierra Club BC
(250) 889-3575
mark@sierraclub.bc.ca

Citizen-funded radio ads to counter pro-Kinder Morgan propaganda campaign

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

May 16, 2018

VANCOUVER—Leadnow, Sierra Club BC, SumOfUs.org and the Wilderness Committee will begin running radio ads Friday urging British Columbians to call their MPs to express their opposition to using public funds to bail out the Kinder Morgan pipeline and tanker project.

“The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers and the Alberta and federal governments have mobilized a massive, coordinated propaganda campaign to promote Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and tankers project,” said Mark Worthing, conservation and climate campaigner with Sierra Club BC. “Finance minister Bill Morneau confirmed today that the federal government is full steam ahead on a Kinder Morgan bailout, but no matter how much public money they throw at Kinder Morgan, B.C.’s opposition to this pipeline remains firm and will not bend.”

Alberta recently launched a $1.2 million ad campaign, $700,000 of which will be spent in B.C. alone. The federal government is actively negotiating a bailout package that could cost taxpayers as much as $10 billion. No one knows how much CAPP is spending, but they are known as one of the most well-financed, powerful lobbying organizations in the country.

The ads are funded with individual donations from concerned Canadian residents. The ads will run from May 18 to 28 on Virgin Radio 94.5 FM.

“Prime Minister Trudeau wants to use billions of taxpayer dollars to bail out a foreign oil corporation’s ill-conceived pipeline project,” said Peter McCartney, climate campaigner with Wilderness Committee. “Not only are British Columbians asked to take on the risk of a spill, but now he actually expects Canadians to cover Kinder Morgan’s losses when this proposal goes belly-up?”

“Trudeau needs to get his priorities straight. Taxpayer dollars should pay for schools and hospitals, not handouts to big oil. Indigenous rights should come before corporate profits,” said Jolan Bailey, a climate campaigner with Leadnow.

“Liberal MPs in B.C. are already worrying about how many votes they’ll lose if Trudeau follows through on his reckless bailout plan. With Kinder Morgan’s hardball ultimatum to the federal government fast-approaching, MPs need to hear loud and clear from British Columbians that they do not support any bailout of Kinder Morgan, or any other company,” said Emma Pullman, campaign manager at SumOfUs.org.

On April 8, Kinder Morgan delivered an ultimatum to the federal government, setting a deadline of May 31 to gain certainty that the project can be built. Since then, the federal and Alberta governments have scrambled to deliver the certainty Kinder Morgan has demanded.

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Radio script available upon request.

Media contacts:

Mark Worthing, Sierra Club BC   (250) 889-3575   mark@sierraclub.bc.ca

Jolan Bailey, Leadnow  (604) 441-6916   jolan@leadnow.ca

Peter McCartney, Wilderness Committee  (778) 239-1935   peter@wildernesscommittee.org

Emma Pullman, SumOfUs.org (778) 887-6776   emma@sumofus.org

Sierra Club BC welcomes announcement of public comment on proposed provincial regulations for oil spill response

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

February 28, 2018

 

Sierra Club BC released the following statement from conservation and climate campaigner Mark Worthing in response to today’s announcement from the B.C. government:

 

“We welcome today’s announcement of public comment on proposed provincial regulations for oil spill response. It is heartening to see the B.C. government modernizing our environment and public health regulations, and standing up for B.C.’s coast and rivers.

“It’s shocking that B.C. does not have similar regulations in place already, and that big oil corporations have been allowed to operate with relative impunity. With these proposed regulations, the B.C. government is seeking to bring our province up to par with safety and preparedness measures that our neighbors in Alaska and Washington have had in place for decades.

“No longer will B.C. be applying regulations from the previous century to today’s oil transport technology. The days of turning a blind eye are over. The B.C. government is standing together with B.C. residents and First Nations to protect these lands and waters, and all the jobs that would be lost in an oil spill.

“However, even with new regulations in place, no approach will be able to fully clean up a major spill. Spills are inevitable and the only way to avoid an increase in spills is to avoid expanding the shipping of fossil fuels.

“We will be encouraging British Columbians to engage in the government’s public consultation process and calling on the B.C. government to set the highest bar possible, so that B.C. is a responsible, healthy, safe place to live and do business, and no longer a wild west for big corporations transporting dangerous goods.”

 

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Contact:
Mark Worthing
Conservation and Climate Campaigner
Sierra Club BC
C: (250)889-3575

BC moves to block Kinder Morgan

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January 2018

This week we scored another victory on the path to stopping Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and tankers.

On January 30, the BC government announced proposed oil spill regulations that will restrict new shipments of diluted bitumen across the province, while announcing a scientific review of the risks of diluted bitumen spills.

By restricting the transport of diluted bitumen across BC waterways and coastline, the BC government has put a roadblock in the way of this already uncertain project.

Kinder Morgan and the Alberta and federal governments are vowing the pipeline will still be built, but with BC’s new regulations they won’t be able to turn the taps on.

Photo by Penny Tennenhouse.

This bold action is thanks to the years of hard work of people just like you – thousands standing up time and again to demand our governments take action to defend our communities, our health and our environment from the risks of oil spills. And we are indebted to the strong leadership of Indigenous communities who are in court, in the streets and on the land to oppose this pipeline and tankers.

Now it’s up to us to make sure the BC government fully enacts these proposed regulations.

British Columbians know that a spill into BC waterways or coastline would be catastrophic to human health and safety as well as the environment our jobs and economy depend on. It would likely mean the extinction of endangered orca whales in the Salish Sea. The spill of diluted bitumen into the Kalamazoo River in Michigan in 2010 caused severe human health impacts and still hasn’t been cleaned up.

We will not let that happen in BC. Kinder Morgan’s pipeline and tankers have no place here.

The provincial government will be asking for public comment on its new regulations. Stay tuned on how you can have your say to help keep BC residents, lands and waters safe from the risk of oil spills. It will take all of us to keep the pressure on this government – thank you for all you do.

For now, if you’re on Vancouver Island, head to Nanaimo on February 2. Prime Minister Trudeau is holding a town hall. This is a chance to let him know you expect our governments to protect BC’s waterways, salmon and endangered orca whales. Here are the event details:

Justin Trudeau Town Hall
11am – 1pm  February 2
Vancouver Island University Gymnasium (900 Fifth St Nanaimo)
Registration begins at 9am in the cafeteria
Dogwood BC is organizing a bus from Victoria leaving at 6am.
RSVP on Facebook and hitch a ride on the bus!

Donate today to help us keep fighting for a clean coastline in BC.

Feature image by Sander Jain.

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