Since the federal government announced it would take over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, opponents promised there would be more protests.
On Monday, a “Stop the Kinder Morgan buy-out” day of action is planned, with more protests in front of MP and provincial political offices and other locations in 13 communities between Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands.
Last week, federal finance minister Bill Morneau announced Ottawa would spend $4.5 billion to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline, and all of Kinder Morgan Canada’s core assets in an effort to get the pipeline built.
In return, the company would resume construction until the sale is finalized.
Leadnow.ca, Greenpeace and the Sierra Club are backing the rallies that call on pipeline opponents to speak up before taxpayer money is “wasted” on the project, which would triple the amount of diluted bitumen that passes between Edmonton and Burnaby.
On the lead now website, rally organizers say they are hopeful there is enough backlash before the sale is finalized for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to cancel the deal.
Demonstrators rallied in front of Premier John Horgans MLA office Monday as part of June 4th the day of snap action against the pipeline expansion project.
“We need this money for so many other things including doctors and water for the aboriginals I mean the list goes on. We are coastal people we are the ones that are going to pay the price if something goes wrong and they just seem to not even care about us we are not even a voice,” said rally organizer Heidi Eisenhuth.
The other “snap action” events include:
- Victoria at the Yates Street Atrium Building at 11 a.m.
- Sidney in front of Tim Horton’s on Beacon Avenue at 11 a.m.
- Pender Island at Slow Coast Cafe at 2 p.m.
- Mayne Island at Miners Bay at 12:30 p.m.
- Salt Spring Island at Centennial Park at 12 p.m
- Gabriola Island near Folklife Village Mall at 2 p.m.
- Nanaimo at NDP MP Sheila Malcolmson office at 4:45 p.m.
- Parksville at NDP MP Gord Johns office at 5 p.m.
- Port Alberni Harbour Quay at 5 p.m.
- Hornby Island at the Co-Op store at 11 a.m.
- Courtenay courthouse at 12 p.m.
- Campbell River at NDP MP Rachel Blaney’s office at 12 p.m.
Protesters hold an inflatable whale during a protest Thursday in Victoria voicing opposition to the federal government’s announcement to buy the Kinder Morgan project for $4.5 billion. More protests are planned Monday throughout Vancouver Island. File photo.
CHEK News
