Valley News: Chilliwack Pipeline Town Hall Meeting Wednesday

Submitted. Following an Abbotsford town hall meeting at the University of the Fraser Valley that brought out more than 50 people, the Wilderness Committee is teaming up with Tanker Free BC and the PIPE UP Network to host a similar meeting in Chilliwack on Wednesday, August 22. These meetings are part of an effort to foster local engagement and rally residents across the Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley in opposition to transporting tar sands for export along Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline.

Despite the known risks, Texas-based Kinder Morgan has quietly been transporting tar sands bitumen through their existing Trans Mountain Pipeline. Now, the company has announced plans to build a new pipeline alongside the existing one, and initiated tolling hearings with future customers before public hearings or environmental assessments have been completed. Expansion would mean digging up lands, damming rivers and disturbing major community infrastructure. It would also double the risk of a tar sands spill and increase the number of supertankers coming in and out of Vancouver, putting ecosystems and local businesses at risk while entrenching a tar sands-dependent export economy.

Since the Kinder Morgan pipeline right-of-way crosses through Chilliwack, it is crucial that community members are given the opportunity to join the discussion. This meeting is a chance for local residents to learn more about the proposal, address their concerns and connect with other groups and citizens participating in the debate.

When: Wednesday August 22, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.

Where: Tzeachten Hall
45855 Promontory Road (next to the Save-on-Foods)
Chilliwack, BC

Who: Speakers at the event include…

Rueben George, Tsleil-Waututh Nation
Eddie Gardner, Skwah First Nation
Ben West, Wilderness Committee
Sven Biggs, Tanker Free BC
Wendy Major, PIPE UP Network
Michael Hale, PIPE UP Network