Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
National

Hundreds Rally In Burnaby, B.C., Against Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion

The Canadian Press, 29 May, 2017 12:03 PM
    BURNABY, B.C. — Hundreds of people in British Columbia have completed a 75-kilometre march in protest of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
     
    The four-day trek called Walk For the Salish Sea ended with a rally in Burnaby, B.C., Sunday afternoon with speeches scheduled from federal Green Party Leader Elizabeth May, Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan and Grand Chief Stewart Phillip.
     
    Texas-based Kinder Morgan recently gave a conditional financial go-ahead for the expansion, which would triple the amount of Alberta oil that flows to B.C.'s coast and increase tanker traffic by seven-fold.
     
    Rally organizer Joel Ornoy says the pipeline poses a serious risk for the environment, nearby residents and economy if a spill were to occur.
     
    In addition to putting a spotlight on the issue, Ornoy says the march raised thousands of dollars for indigenous groups fighting the pipeline proposal in the courts.
     
     
    Kinder Morgan has said the company received the necessary approvals from the federal government for the project and is aiming to begin construction this fall.
     
    But Simon Fraser University English professor Stephen Collis, who took part in the rally, said the pipeline is not a done-deal.
     
    "There is still a lack of indigenous consent and there's a lack of public consent and this event is about showing that people are still concerned and still opposed and still intending to make sure this does not happen," he said.
     
    Collis added that past litigation, including a landmark 2014 Supreme Court of Canada case that favoured the Tsilhqot'in people in B.C. in a battle over land title, sets a precedent for ongoing legal battles related to the area the Trans Mountain pipeline will cross.
     
    "Many, many (First) Nations whose territories the pipeline will cross are vocally opposed to this," he said. 
     
    Collis said it's just a matter of getting their cases through the courts.

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Ontario Boy, 14, Facing Sex Assault Counts Involving Girls Under Age 10

    Ontario Boy, 14, Facing Sex Assault Counts Involving Girls Under Age 10
    KINGSTON, Ont. — Police say a 14-year-old Kingston, Ont., boy is facing multiple charges arising from alleged sexual assaults on young girls.

    Ontario Boy, 14, Facing Sex Assault Counts Involving Girls Under Age 10

    Funeral Held For Ontario Woman Killed In Belize Along With American Boyfriend

    Funeral Held For Ontario Woman Killed In Belize Along With American Boyfriend
    RICHMOND HILL, Ont. — A funeral was held Thursday in Richmond Hill, Ont., for a Canadian woman who was killed in Belize.

    Funeral Held For Ontario Woman Killed In Belize Along With American Boyfriend

    Four Men Found Guilty In Toronto Cafe Killing

    Four Men Found Guilty In Toronto Cafe Killing
    TORONTO — Four men accused of arranging a brazen daytime killing at a crowded Toronto cafe as part of a feud among drug traffickers were found guilty of first-degree murder on Thursday.

    Four Men Found Guilty In Toronto Cafe Killing

    Truck Driver Charged In Deadly Highway 401 Crash That Killed 4

    Truck Driver Charged In Deadly Highway 401 Crash That Killed 4
    KINGSTON, Ont. — A 37-year-old transport truck driver from Quebec is facing a number of charges in connection with a major highway crash in Ontario that killed four people.

    Truck Driver Charged In Deadly Highway 401 Crash That Killed 4

    Halifax Fire Truck Catches Fire En Route To Call: 'There's A Degree Of Irony, Yes'

    Halifax Fire Truck Catches Fire En Route To Call: 'There's A Degree Of Irony, Yes'
    Halifax firefighters got a surprise Thursday morning when flames started shooting from their own truck as they responded to a call.

    Halifax Fire Truck Catches Fire En Route To Call: 'There's A Degree Of Irony, Yes'

    Vancouver Aquarium Treating Emaciated Sea Lion Shot At Least Twice In The Face

    VANCOUVER — Animal rescuers at the Vancouver Aquarium's marine mammal centre say they're trying to save a California sea lion that was shot in the face.

    Vancouver Aquarium Treating Emaciated Sea Lion Shot At Least Twice In The Face