Kinder Morgan pipeline protest in Burnaby attracts hundreds
Burnaby residents opposed to pipeline expansion rally at Westridge Park
Burnaby residents opposed to Kinder Morgan's plans to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline are rallied today in opposition to company's plans to spend $5 billion to nearly triple the pipeline's capacity.
The pipeline carries crude bitumen from the Alberta oilsands to Vancouver.
When completed, the proposed expansion will increase pipeline capacity from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day, the company says.
The plan also includes the expansion of the Westridge Marine Terminal in Vancouver to allow larger tanker ships to transport the oil to Asia.
Residents say they showed up out of concern over the increase in oil tanker traffic, the increased size of the tank farm on Burnaby Mountain, the effects on health and safety in Burnaby and elsewhere, and the impacts on watersheds.
Their "people's procession" wound through the city following the existing and proposed oil and gas pipeline route ending with a rally at Westridge Park at 1 p.m. PT .