The Toronto Post A Consolidated News Source
After 13 years of planning, construction, legal battles, and protests, oil is finally flowing through the expanded Trans Mountain pipeline. Tonight marks a turning point for the project, a long and winding road marked by delays, cost overruns, and fierce opposition from environmental groups and Indigenous communities.
One such voice of opposition is George, an activist who has spent years fighting against the pipeline expansion. Standing on the shores of Burrard Inlet, he reflects on the years of activism dedicated to protecting the land and waterways. “These are highways for our people,” he says, “we’ve sustained ourselves for thousands of years.” Despite his efforts and those of others, the pipeline is now complete.
Trans Mountain officials, on the other hand, view this as a moment of triumph. A photo released by the company shows the “golden weld,” the final piece connecting the 1,100-kilometer pipeline from Alberta to the coastal terminal in Burnaby. Proponents see the project as a vital piece of infrastructure that will benefit Canada’s oil industry, creating jobs and generating tax revenue. “The broader economic benefits of infrastructure like this are perhaps the most important implication,” says an industry representative.
However, the project’s benefits come at a steep price. The federal government purchased the project from Kinder Morgan in 2018 for $4.5 billion. During construction, the total cost ballooned to a staggering $34 billion, translating to roughly $873 per Canadian citizen. “We clearly have challenges building major infrastructure in this country,” says an analyst. “While this might be a day for celebration, it’s also a time to reflect on how we can do better.”
The road to completion was not smooth. The project faced numerous hurdles, including cost overruns, construction delays, and fierce opposition from Indigenous groups like the Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh Nations. Their legal fight ultimately ended at the Supreme Court, where they were unsuccessful. Activists like George took more direct action, even suspending themselves from the Iron Workers Memorial Bridge in 2018. He spent 28 days in jail for defying a court injunction. “It’s hard to know that all the work wasn’t enough,” he says, his voice heavy with emotion. “The risk to our land and water is still very real.”
Significantly, the pipeline’s launch is devoid of fanfare. There are no ribbon-cuttings, no photo opportunities, no public celebration. This muted opening reflects the deep divisions the project has created, a project that may mark the flow of oil, but leaves behind a trail of unresolved environmental concerns and a sense of frustration for those who fought against it.
