Update: On November 29, Prime Minister Trudeau approved the Kinder Morgan pipeline despite massive opposition. But here's the thing: we're never going to let this project get built. The sheer amount of resistance to this project is staggering. Virtually every municipality that has a stake in the pipeline’s path officially objects to it. Tens of thousands of Canadians have been steadfast in opposition. And, most importantly, First Nations have pledged to resist the pipeline by any legal means necessary. Overnight, over 17,000 SumOfUs members signed on to The Union of BC Indian Chiefs Coast Protectors resistance pledge. You can still email Trudeau and his Cabinet now reiterating the points below.
Urgent: Trudeau could approve the Kinder Morgan tar sands pipeline project tomorrow.
An emergency Cabinet meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, and right now, we need your help to flood Trudeau and his Cabinet minister's inboxes with as many emails as possible urging them to reject the project. You have to remind Trudeau and his Cabinet that at the end of the day, they're going to have to answer to us.
Here are some talking points you can include in your message, but please write your message in your own words.
- 59 First Nations in BC are opposed, as are almost every nation that is directly affected by tanker traffic and spill risk.
- Southern Resident Orcas are a threatened species, and scientists say they will go extinct with the 7-fold increase of tanker traffic. Even the Kinder Morgan and the National Energy Board have agreed that no mitigation is possible.
- A recent poll shows that you could lose 31% of Liberal voters in BC if you approve this project. And most British Columbians agree that approving the Kinder Morgan pipeline contradict your campaign promise to take action on climate change file and develop a new relationship with First Nations.
- We appreciate recent leadership on climate, but you can't be a climate leader and build so many pipelines and other giant new fossil fuel infrastructure projects.
- The mayor of Vancouver himself warned of the massive protests if the project is approved, and there will be massive resistance efforts in the scale organized by the brave water defenders at Standing Rock if the project is given a green light. Over 3,500 people signed the new Indigenous led "Coast Protectors" pledge in only a few days. The Mayor of Burnaby has said he will stand in front of the bulldozers. This is going to be Trudeau's Clayoquot Sound, but in a major city.
- 21 municipalities are opposed to the project including Mayors of Vancouver, Victoria, North Vancouver, Burnaby, and New Westminster.
- By 2100, there will be 200 million climate refugees because shortsighted governments keep approving projects like this one. We cannot afford to build this project and not consider the global impacts.
Please use the form on the right to send your message to Trudeau an his Cabinet now. It will go directly to his inbox, and a copy will be delivered to Ministers Bennett, Car, Duncan, Joly, LeBlanc, McKenna and Sohi.
More information
CBC News. 29 November 2016.
CBC News. 20 November 2016.