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'Let’s get the damn thing built': Prince George politicians react to Trans Mountain approval

Local MPs and MLAs want pipeline construction to begin as soon as possible
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Local politicians have given their reaction to the most recent approval of the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project. (via credited)

As expected, the Trudeau government once again approved the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline yesterday (June 18), although it is now likely to cost a lot more to complete, thanks to a year-long delay.

While the pipeline itself isn't coming through Prince George, local politicians had a lot to say about the future of the project, wanting to know when the project will actually be built. 

“I think that there’s no surprise,” Todd Doherty, MP for Cariboo-Prince George, tells PrinceGeorgeMatters. “This is the third time the pipeline has now been approved. I think what’s disappointing is that there was no timeline as to when construction would start. He [Trudeau] had to make an announcement yesterday. Yes, it’s approved but people want to know when the shovels will get in the ground and when this will get moving and when people will get back to work and I think that’s really important."

Doherty also pointed to what he says was an odd occurrence when Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was asked technical questions regarding the pipeline, he immediately handed the questions over to Finance Minister Bill Morneau. 

"The prime minister quickly passed it off, and unexpectedly as well too, to the finance minister, Minister Morneau and it just seemed kind of weird," he adds. "We’re glad they’ve approved it, we wouldn’t expect anything less but I think what we were hoping for was what the plan was to get people to work and get our product to market and I think what we’ve seen is more uncertainty.”

Prince George-Peace River-Northern Rockies MP Bob Zimmer told PrinceGeorgeMatters in an interview yesterday (June 18) he believes the multiple approvals are actually a stall tactic by the federal government. 

"As soon as you give it more reason to be challenged, some will take them up on that," he says. "For us, I've been skeptical, hopeful but skeptical, most of their regulations and changes, that they're delay tactics, and essentially they didn't want to build the project in the first place and they're finding ways to not have it happen. Death by regulation is the term I've used before and I don't see it any different now." 

Provincial MLAs echoed a similar message, wanting the B.C. government to stop fighting the project and using taxpayers dollars to challenge through the courts. 

“The Federal government has once again approved the project and that should make it clear to the government of B.C. that it is time to stop spending taxpayer dollars fighting in the courts and support the pipeline expansion,” MLA for Prince George-Valemount, Shirley Bond says in an email to PrinceGeorgeMatters. “As the project moves ahead it means job opportunities in local communities including in my riding of Prince George Valemount. A majority of British Columbians support the project as well as more than 40 First Nations who signed benefits agreements.”

MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie, Mike Morris, shared his frustration on the multiple approvals and challenges in regards to Kinder Morgan's project, saying shovels should have already hit the ground. 

"Let’s get the damn thing built,” he tells PrinceGeorgeMatters. “The approvals were all in place when we were still in government, with the previous federal government, and the National Energy Board (NEB). There’s been numerous court challenges against this. Let’s get it built.”

Morris also touched on B.C. Premier John Horgan and the comments he made yesterday after the announcement, saying he was "dissapointed" in Justin Trudeau and the federal government. 

“Irresponsible in my perspective,” he adds. “I think his [Horgan] arguments have been frivolous. They do no favors for the economy of British Columbia, for British Columbians, none at all.”