An independent BC Review of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project - Draft Motion

An independent BC Review of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project

A motion to View Royal Municipal Council by the View Royal Chapter of the Dogwood Initiative

WHEREAS the current National Energy Board (NEB) assessment of the Trans Mountain pipeline has proven to be deeply flawed and undemocratic, denying First Nations, municipalities, and interested B.C. citizens meaningful participation;

AND WHEREAS, in the last five months, the credibility of the NEB process has been further compromised through the NEB’s refusal to release Kinder Morgan’s full oil spill response documents as requested by the Province;

AND WHEREAS Transport Canada has confirmed the risk of an oil spill off southern Vancouver Island is “very high” if this expanded pipeline is approved, leading to a seven-fold increase in oil tanker traffic through the Strait of Juan de Fuca;

AND WHEREAS the Union of BC Municipalities endorsed Victoria’s emergency resolution (LR2) in September 2014 calling on the Environmental Assessment Office of the Province of British Columbia to undertake its own Environmental Assessment process of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project and withdraw from the 2010 Equivalency Agreement with the NEB;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that View Royal Municipal Council requests the UBCM Executive to follow-up this resolution and urge the Province to respond promptly;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Association of Vancouver Island Coastal Communities endorse UBCM motion LR2 at its April 2015 convention and call for a prompt response and action by the Province.