Laurie Hamelin
APTN National News
At least one First Nation in British Columbia is welcoming the government’s help to stop the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline, but at the same time, the Musqueam First Nation is being a little cautious.
“When we have political leaders stepping up, that is a huge statement,” said Audrey Siegl, an activist from the Musqueam First Nation. “But in my mind, I worry because we have been fooled so many times in the past so is this just to appease us?”
With the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline set to start in just weeks, the new British Columbia government is saying – not so fast.
The controversial project has already been approved by Ottawa, the former B.C. Liberal government, and the National Energy Board.
Last week, the NDP announced it is considering legal options to fight the pipeline.
‘We will, as we have stated repeatedly, use every tool available to defend BC’s coast in the face of this threat,” said George Heyman, B.C’s Environment and Climate Change Strategy minister last week.
Demonstrators have been opposing the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline since 2013.
The $7.4 billion project was approved by the Trudeau Liberals in November 2016.
The line would triple oil traffic from Alberta to the B.C. coast, and increase tanker traffic.
Siegl said she hopes that many more people join the fight against the Trans Mountain pipeline.
“We are getting our legs under us,” she said. “And we are willing to stand up and to heal, to unite, to rise, to protect the little bit of what is left.
“It’s not just because it’s sacred to us, it is necessary for all life.”
The NDP campaigned against the project in the spring.
They’re warning Kinder Morgan not to begin work until it received final approval.
Contact Laurie here: lhamelin@aptn.ca
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