The president of Kinder Morgan Canada took the opportunity to promote the economic benefits of the company's $5.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline twinning project before a friendly audience of business leaders at the Tri-Cities Chamber of Commerce.
But Ian Anderson admitted his bigger audience is the broader community that will need to come on side if he is to fulfill the vision of creating a larger conduit to get Alberta oil to foreign markets.
And so far, the message is gaining traction among Canadians who appreciate the need for a strong economy, Anderson said in an interview because more people understand that creating a "world class" medical system, education and infrastructure requires economic generators such as the pipeline and tanker facility expansion.
"As a trading nation, we have to get [our resources] to market," Anderson said.
On Thursday afternoon at the Executive Inn in Coquitlam, Anderson shared a similar theme as he outlined how local suppliers could win business and local jobs would be created by the project if it wins regulatory approval.
Among the benefits he touted were $500 million in incremental property taxes over 20 years, including a doubling of tax revenue to the city of Coquitlam for 7 km of pipeline, amounting to about $400,000 a year, plus $1 billion in provincial taxes and revenues and $1.2 billion in federal taxes.
"The reality is [these projects] translate down into goods and services for our society that we all appreciate and value," Anderson said.
JOBS FOR TRADES
On the jobs front, he said over 20 years, the project would create 108,000 person years of employment, with jobs in welding, electrical, pipefitting, site preparation and administration.
Although he admitted he is concerned about climate change and the world's reliance on fossil fuels, Anderson reiterated that a strong economy is necessary to develop technological solutions to these problems.
"What better way to get there then off the resources we have," Anderson said.
As for the potential risks and hazards that come with tripling the pipeline capacity, enhancing tanker loading facilities to permit a tanker a day to load oil before being towed out of Burrard Inlet, the public will learn more when the company files its formal application with the National Energy Board in December.
But Anderson promised that the company would work with the port and provincial and federal authorities to reduce marine hazards, solve noise and light issues and will work with communities to come up with legacy projects to compensate for disruption from construction.
He acknowledged that Belcarra has concerns about the impact of tankers on residents and marine wildlife.
At roughly the same time that Anderson was speaking to business leaders, Metro' Vancouver's environment and parks committee voted to echo Belcarra Mayor Ralph Drew's concerns about the project, particularly the potential for a spill into Burrard Inlet.
