Following an assessment, the provincial government has granted environmental approval of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
The $6.8 billion expansion was granted federal approval in late November.
At a press conference earlier this afternoon, Premier Christy Clark told the media that the five conditions for her approval of the expansion had been met, thanks to the federal government’s commitment to protect the B.C. coast by way of a $1.5-billion ocean protection plan, as well as a number of agreements with Kinder Morgan that would see the province’s overall financial benefit bolstered.
“As part of the five conditions, we’ve made it clear that British Columbia deserves a fair share of the economic benefits that result from the project,” said Clark.
The province has reached an agreement with Kinder Morgan that the company will “put British Columbians first” when it comes to hiring employees to build and maintain the pipeline.
Amanda Siebert – Georgia Straight –January 11, 2017.