The community of Coquitlam and Trans Mountain have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding for a Community Benefit Agreement that will see a $1,000,000 dollar contribution toward funding improvements to Mackin Park. Trans Mountain has been pursuing Community Benefit Agreements with those along the proposed pipeline corridor to provide direct benefits to communities, if the Expansion project is approved and constructed. This is the first Metro Vancouver community along the proposed pipeline corridor to sign a Community Benefit Agreement.

“Today’s agreement demonstrates Trans Mountain’s ongoing commitment to providing direct benefits to communities impacted by the Expansion,” said Ian Anderson, President of Kinder Morgan Canada. “ We are pleased our Community Benefit Program can support Coquitlam’s plans to improve to Mackin Park, as we all share the value of the importance of Metro Vancouver park space.”

The agreement was signed as part of an overall effort underway by Kinder Morgan Canada to provide tangible benefits to pipeline-affected communities impacted by the construction of the proposed pipeline, in recognition of the public inconveniences and temporary disruption. Including today’s agreement with Coquitlam, the company has signed Community Benefit Agreements totaling $7.35 million with communities along 91 per cent of the pipeline corridor. Additional agreements with municipalities and communities along the pipeline corridor are expected as project planning continues.

Trans Mountain has conducted a robust public engagement program since the announcement of the Project in 2012, including consultation with thousands of individuals to date. Through some 159 open houses and workshops and hundreds of meetings along the pipeline and marine corridors and more than 24,000 points of engagement with Aboriginal communities, Trans Mountain improved and optimized its planning and mitigation measures to address concerns. To date, close to 40 Aboriginal groups located along the Project and marine corridor in Alberta and B.C have submitted letters of support for the Project. Engagement continues throughout the review processes, construction and operation of the expansion.