Today Trans Mountain and the City of Abbotsford have signed a Community Benefit Agreement that will see a $1.3 million contribution toward the revitalization of the city-owned Ledgeview Golf Course. Abbotsford is the first community along the Trans Mountain pipeline corridor in the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland region to sign an agreement.

Trans Mountain has been pursuing Community Benefit Agreements with communities along the pipeline corridor to provide direct benefits to communities if the proposed Expansion Project is approved and constructed. To date, Trans Mountain has entered into agreements with local governments representing 93 per cent of the route.

“Ledgeview Golf Course is rated in the top 20 courses in BC and is a source of community pride and a desired golf destination for residents and visitors,” said City of Abbotsford Mayor Henry Braun. “The funds from the Community Benefit Agreement will have a lasting and far-reaching impact on the amenities offered at Ledgeview and will expand it into a more comprehensive community destination.”

“We are pleased Trans Mountain’s Community Benefit Program can assist with the revitalization of the amenities at Ledgeview Golf Course which will be an asset to the people of Abbotsford,” said Ian Anderson, President of Kinder Morgan Canada. “We are thankful for the City of Abbotsford’s support of our commitment to provide lasting benefits to its community.”

Abbotsford will be the second-largest local government beneficiary of the expansion with 29 km of new pipe and one new storage tank proposed at the Sumas Terminal. If approved, the City will collect an additional $1.3 million in taxes annually, bringing the total to almost $3.4 million annually. In addition, the expansion will result in $193 million in construction spending in the City, and workers are expected to spend about $18.1 million on things such as accommodation, meals and clothing in the Fraser Valley.

Kinder Morgan Canada values the relationships it has with the communities along its existing pipeline system and the proposed pipeline Project; these span over more than 60 years of history. This agreement was signed as part of an overall effort underway by Kinder Morgan Canada to work with pipeline-affected communities to identify local opportunities to give something back in recognition of the temporary public inconveniences and disruption created by construction of the proposed expansion. Additional agreements with municipalities in the FVRD and Metro Vancouver along the pipeline corridor are expected as Project planning continues.