Thousands protest Kinder Morgan pipeline in Vancouver (PHOTOS, VIDEO)
Thousands of people took to the streets of downtown Vancouver on Saturday, November 19 to protest the proposed expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline.
Reports suggest that up to 4000 protesters met at City hall before marching across the Cambie Street Bridge and congregating in Library Square.
Shortly before the protest began, Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson – who has been outspoken in his criticism of the pipeline – tweeted his support for those marching, stating the expansion is “not worth the risk.”
#kindermorgan pipeline expansion not worth the risk. Oil spill from 7x more tankers would devastate environment, economy #vanpoli #cdnpoli
— Gregor Robertson (@MayorGregor) November 19, 2016
And judging by the crowds of people who attended the rally, it seems many people agreed with his sentiment.
"If you drink the water, if you breath the air, this is about you." @JustinTrudeau, reject #kindermorgan #cdnpoli #stopKM #waterislife pic.twitter.com/w9f8hnhCqc
— Mike Hudema (@MikeHudema) November 19, 2016
We all live downstream. #stopKM #kindermorgan #cdnpoli #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/yRznJQBqoN
— Maria Dobrinskaya (@mdobrinskaya) November 19, 2016
The rally started at City Hall at around 3:30 pm, before protesters made their way down Cambie Street, across the bridge, and then converged again at Library Square.
I'm at stop Kinder Morgan pipeline protest in Vancouver, BC#nomoretankers #kindermorgan pic.twitter.com/86wbxJ9YVh
— Darwin Bedford (@DarwinBedford) November 19, 2016
About 2,000-4,000 people at Stop Kinder Morgan rally in front of City Hall pic.twitter.com/ReTzMpxECn
— mychaylo (@mychaylo) November 19, 2016
Cambie Street! 4000+ We are #CoastProtectors. Whatever it takes, we will stop the #KinderMorgan Pipeline. #StopKM pic.twitter.com/EyhCVwnEj4
— UBCIC (@UBCIC) November 19, 2016
My first time attending a protest. Stop #TransMountain no #kindermorgan @JustinTrudeau won't be my last. #dotherightthing pic.twitter.com/rT0NvYsYxs
— geoff affleck (@gaffleck) November 19, 2016
Happening now at #Vancouver library square. Amazing turnout at anti #kindermorgan rally. #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/BuFYiq3HZl
— Kasra Hassani (@Kasra_Ha) November 19, 2016
Vancouver protest against Kinder Morgan pic.twitter.com/pUfbMdoCNx
— Florinda Stroe (@empathymail) November 19, 2016
#Kindermorgan protest #Vancouver #Cambiebridge pic.twitter.com/2cGFsRkyiw
— Brent Dawes (@brentdawes) November 19, 2016
Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion is intended to increase the capacity of the existing pipeline from 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day.
But the fact it would plough through a big chunk of the Burnaby Mountain Conservation Area, has made the plan extremely controversial in 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.