Federally owned Trans Mountain to use Colony Farm in Coquitlam for work on pipeline expansion

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      Metro Vancouver has allowed the use of a regional park for the expansion of a federal Canadian government-owned oil pipeline.

      Pipeline company Trans Mountain Corporation will use a portion of the Colony Farm Regional Park in Coquitlam as a temporary work site.

      The work at the western edge of the park involves staging and assembling of pipe to be pulled under Fraser River.

      Trans Mountain Corporation was purchased by the Liberal government of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for $4.5 billion from Texas-based Kinder Morgan in 2018.

      The company is working to twin its 1,150-kilometre pipeline from the oil fields of Alberta to Burnaby in B.C.

      Mike Redpath, director of regional parks, mentioned the use of Colony Park in a report to Metro Vancouver’s regional parks committee.

      “The workspace area primarily includes an existing trail/ service road, and some old field,” Redpath wrote.

      According to Redpath, Trans Mountain construction activities in the park are expected to last about eight months.

      “During this time, the western perimeter trail will be closed for safety reasons,” the regional parks director stated in his report that forms part of the committee’s agenda Wednesday (January 20).

      The $1.4 million fund from Trans Mountain will be used for park enhancements.

      These projects include invasive species removal, habitat and drainage improvements, and others to be discussed between the two parties.

      As the Straight had previously reported, the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion will generate 71.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually through refining, distribution, and combustion.

      These emissions exceed the 64.5 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions generated from the entire province of British Columbia in 2017.

      The purchase of the pipeline has not stopped Trudeau from projecting himself as a champion for the environment.

      On December 11, 2020, Trudeau issued a media release proclaiming that his government will strengthen its climate plan.

      “Climate change knows no borders,” the statement read.

      It went on: “By continuing to work together on this urgent crisis, we will be able to avoid the worst effects of climate change and build a healthier and cleaner future, while also creating new jobs and economic growth for all Canadians.”

      The Trans Mountain expansion will triple the pipeline's capacity from approximately 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day.

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