Photo credit: Flickr/Travis S.
What happens with Alberta’s tar sands is, to put it simply, a big deal. Developing tar sands has a tremendous impact on our forests, our climate, our waterways, and our communities. When the stakes are so high, the scrutiny should be high, too, right?
Not according to Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s government. In early 2012, the Harper Government rewrote the rules for how pipeline projects are evaluated, making it nearly impossible for citizens to challenge his government’s tar sands agenda with their very valid concerns. We’re challenging these changes with a lawsuit against the Federal government. And now, another example of this silencing has emerged, and we’re gearing up to tackle it head-on.
American energy company Kinder Morgan wants to triple its Trans Mountain pipeline capacity, which runs from Alberta to British Columbia’s stunning coast. The demand to keep the pipelines full would mean more tar sands mining, and more carbon dioxide spewing into our climate. What’s more, the pipeline expansion would introduce 400+ new tar sands tankers to West Coast waters each year, putting salmon, orca, fisheries and tourism at risk.
Kinder Morgan recently submitted its project application to the National Energy Board. As of today, residents have less than a month to apply to participate in the project's review--Wednesday, February 12 is the deadline. The application itself is daunting. You have to fill out a 8-10 page form and prove that you’re “directly affected” to take part. Plus, the application goes into some highly technical aspects of the project. And the icing on the cake? Kinder Morgan’s lawyers can challenge applications.
All of these hurdles exist because the oil companies and their allies in government don’t want people to be able to speak out with their concerns. But when the things we love and depend on would be harmed by a project, we’re ready to overcome any hurdle. So, here’s what we’re doing.
In the Vancouver and elsewhere in BC, we’re organizing with our allies to give concerned Canadians the resources and knowledge they need to be able to participate. In communities that would be most impacted by the project, we’ll be giving workshops and other support to make the process more accessible.
When the quest for oil profits puts our communities and environment at risk, people need to be able to voice their concerns. We won’t let Stephen Harper, or anyone else for the matter, take that right away.
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