Trans Mountain Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion opposed by BC government » Formal rejection announced after conditions not met Cazzy Lewchuk Staff Writer n January 11, the BC government formally announced their opposition in letter form to the controversial Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion to the National Energy Board, which is based in Calgary. This letter cited failure to meet several outlined conditions. These conditions— which included oil spill prevention systems and collaboration with local First Nations—were first outlined in 2012. A major factor in the public position involved Kinder Morgan’s perceived lack of response to environmental damage. Specific criticism included lack of leak prevention and a delayed cleanup response and public notification. The announcement was heavily praised by other anti- pipeline groups, including the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, North Shore NOPE (No Pipeline Expansion), and the BC chapter of the environmental non-profit Sierra Club. In a press statement, Sierra Club’s spokesperson : Larissa Stendie stated that the : BC government “put themselves ? on the right side of history... We : congratulate [the government] : for recognizing the serious : threats to our economy, our : environment, and our climate : posed by Kinder Morgan’s : proposal... What we need is : fewer pipelines and more solar : panels, less fracking, and more : wind turbines. Premier Clark’s : government can lead by shifting : towards a thriving post-carbon : economy that provides more : well-paying jobs and helps : keep the planet within 1.5 : degrees Celsius of warming.” The BC government’s letter : is the first of many such formal : rejections expected in the near : future. Oral presentations to : the National Energy Board are : scheduled to take place between : January 22-27, and will include : members of the Squamish : Nation and North Shore NOPE. Kinder Morgan responded : ina press release that they are : confident they can work with : the province to meet the five : goals by the time a final decision : : is processed. The announcement : : suggests that the BC government ! : letter is not a definitive : : “no,” but rather a temporary : rejection at this point in time. Discussions continue to : be held between all invested : groups, including residents of : Merritt and the Thompson- : Nicola Regional District, where : the pipeline is scheduled to be : built. Economically, the Merritt : area and the province as a whole : stands to gain heavily from : the project, as $419 million : is expected to be spent on : construction in Merritt alone. The National Energy : Board is projected to make : a formal endorsement or : rejection of the project by May, : which will be forwarded to : the federal government. The : federal Liberal government : has supported the expansion : under certain conditions, and : will make the final decision. : Spokesperson for North Shore : NOPE Janice Edmonds has : criticized this platform. “They should change it right > now,” said Edmonds ina press : statement. “Trudeau promised : he wouldn't go ahead with any project that didn’t have social licence. He told us he would not go forward with that.” Image via www.spectraenergy.com Image via thinkstock Voting at Douglas and in the community » Douglas College and Coquitlam to hold by-elections Mercedes Deutscher News Editor © news@theotherpress.ca by-election has been called to fill in a vacant spot in Douglas College’s New Westminster Campus Education Council. The Registrar's Office took in candidacy applications between December 15 and January u. From January 20 to 27, New Westminster students will have the opportunity to elect their new council member. Students can vote through their online Douglas account. The elected candidate will serve on the Education Council until August 31, after which a general Education Council election will be held. Meanwhile, residents of the Coquitlam-Burke Mountain riding will have a chance to vote ina provincial level by-election. Doug Horne, the former Liberal MLA for the riding, stepped down from his position in an attempt to campaign as a Conservative MP for the October federal : election, but lost to Liberal : MP Rob McKinnon. Paul Geddes is running : on behalf of the Libertarian : Party; Joan Isaacs, a business : woman, is running on : behalf of the Liberal Party; : Joe Keithley, a musician, is : running on behalf of the Green : Party; and Jodie Wickens, : the executive director of the : Autism Support Network, is : running on behalf of the NDP. As of this time, Wickens : has been the only candidate : to attract attention. “We deserve a champion : who will fight for this : community. I know how much : we need new schools and : improved transit,” Wickens : explained at a January 10 rally, : as reported by Voice Online. Advanced polling for the : provincial by-election is open : during the weekend of January : 23 and 24, and from January : 27 to 30. The general voting : date is February 2. All polls are : open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. A similar by-election : 1s occurring in Vancouver- : Mount Pleasant. Provincial voter : registration can be completed : on the Elections BC website.