Kinder Morgan pipeline protest planned in Vancouver on Saturday

Anti-pipeline protesters will be out in force at Vancouver City Hall this Saturday, to oppose controversial Kinder Morgan’s expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.

The Stop Kinder Morgan: No Consent No Pipeline rally, which will take place from noon to 3:30 pm, is being organized by Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver.

Writing on Facebook, the grassroots group says “everything has changed since last week,” and that now’s the time to put a stop to the pipeline project “by showing the depth of opposition to it here in BC.”

The pipeline expansion is intended to increase the capacity of the existing pipeline from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day.

But given the fact that it would plough through a big chunk of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, the plan has proven extremely controversial over recent years.

Two years ago, many protesters camped out on the mountain were arrested. Meanwhile the City of Burnaby even took Kinder Morgan to court over the proposal, to no avail.

The BC government has said it is up to the federal government to approve or reject the plan. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has promised to decide on the expansion by December.

Saturday’s protest will begin at City Hall, and will continue with a march to the Cambie Street Bridge, where a banner drop will take place.

The group will then march to Library Square (at Homer and West Georgia), where they will rally again, before the event wraps up.

The rally will also feature a range of notable speakers, including:

• Grand Chief Stewart Phillip – President, Union of BC Indian Chiefs
• Elizabeth May – Green Party MP
• Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan
• Vancouver City Councillor Andrea Reimer

Meanwhile, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has released a video voicing his opposition to the pipeline project.

But there’s been no word yet on whether he plans to attend the rally or not.

Stop Kinder Morgan: No Consent No Pipeline

Where: Vancouver City Hall – 453 West 12th, Vancouver

When: Saturday, November 19, from noon to 3:30 pm

Info: On Facebook