Local New Democrat MP Kennedy Stewart wants more oversight on Kinder Morgan's possible plan to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs oil from Alberta to Burnaby.
The company is holding an "open season" from Oct. 20 to Jan. 19 to see if enough customers will commit to using an expanded pipeline.
"Having a meaningful consultation with industry is important, but why not start talking to environmental groups or the affected communities?" said Stewart, the associate natural resources critic for Western Canada.
Stewart wants the highest appropriate set of reviews from both the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency and the National Energy Board.
"Right now, Burnaby and British Columbia will be expected to take huge environmental risks but see very little in economic gains or new jobs. British Columbians should be involved in this conversation," he said.
The 1,150-kilometre Trans Mountain line is already twinned in some areas, but to meet rising demand, the company would have to twin more sections to increase shipping capacity.
The pipeline's maximum capacity is now at 300,000 barrels a day, but the most it could handle if fully expanded is up to 700,000 barrels.
The pipeline ships crude, refined and semi-refined products to Burnaby. Tankers fill up at the Westridge Marine Terminal in North Burnaby to take oil to the U.S. and Asia. An expanded pipeline would mean more tanker traffic in the Burrard Inlet.
Kinder Morgan spokesperson Lexa Hobensheild said the company will start a thorough consultation process, and environmental and socio-economic assessments, to develop a regulatory application but only if there is enough market support to justify an expansion. www.twitter.com/JenniferMoreau
