What economic benefits does the Project create?
On the national scale, the Project will create a long-term legacy of tax revenues to support vital government services we all rely on, such as funding for schools and health care. The Conference Board of Canada estimates $46.7 billion will find its way into government treasuries during development and the first 20 years. The Project will create 800,000 person-years of work during construction and 20 years of operations. This includes direct, indirect and spinoff jobs as well as jobs resulting from higher revenues for oil producers. Property tax revenue to local governments in BC will increase by $23.2 million annually, which is more than double the current amount.
What are the construction benefits in Burnaby and the Metro Vancouver region?
More than 1,100 businesses including many in Burnaby have registered an interest in participating in the Project by filling out an online form on Trans Mountain’s Contractor and Supplier Information web page.
The Project will generate $1.15 billion in construction spending in the Metro Vancouver region, with local and non-local workers spending about $160 million on things such as accommodation, food and clothing in the Metro Vancouver area.
Expansion Project spending includes $750 million worth of upgrades to Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal.
In BC, we’ll create the equivalent of 9,000 full-time employees for four years during construction. We’ll spend and hire about 700 construction workers for our work at Burnaby and Westridge Terminals alone.
Once construction is complete, the expansion will lead to new permanent employment opportunities in Burnaby, including 50 new permanent jobs at Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal, and more than 1,000 jobs related to water transportation including operating tugs, tanker escorts and pilot services. Our Project will also support the growth of local businesses in Burnaby in sectors ranging from construction to accounting and engineering. Each of those business will inject money into the local economy as employees spend their wages in places such as retail stores and restaurants.
Each tanker docking at Westridge Marine Terminal brings $366,000 to the region. That represents an annual $127 million of spending on local goods and services, many of which are provided by Burnaby businesses already working with Trans Mountain.
There will be more tanker traffic at Westridge Marine Terminal. What will you do to protect Burrard Inlet from spills?
Since 1956, vessels from our Westridge Marine Terminal have been transporting petroleum products safely through Port Metro Vancouver without a single spill from a tanker. Close collaboration with marine transportation authorities including the Pacific Pilotage Authority, Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard and Port Metro Vancouver ensure that tankers navigate our local waters safely and are guided in and out of the port by highly-trained and qualified pilots.
Trans Mountain has proposed additional measures that will further improve the current marine safety regime through accident prevention, including enhanced tug escort of laden oil tankers requiring a tug to accompany the tanker throughout its entire passage to the open ocean. Pending final Project approval, Trans Mountain will provide more than $100 million in additional funding to Western Canada Marine Response Corporation (WCMRC), BC’s Transport Canada-certified marine oil spill response organization. WCMRC will use the funds to purchase new equipment and spill response vessels, hire 100 new staff and establish several new marine bases.
What community benefits does Kinder Morgan Canada bring to Burnaby?
Trans Mountain has a long history of supporting the residents of Burnaby. Since 2007, Kinder Morgan has invested close to $200,000 to support elementary school programs, community groups and environmental organizations.
What property tax benefits does the Project create for Burnaby?
Trans Mountain is one of Burnaby’s largest taxpayers. Trans Mountain’s major storage, distribution and marine shipping facilities are located in Burnaby, paying the city more than $7 million a year in property taxes.
Expansion of Trans Mountain facilities in Burnaby would boost Trans Mountain’s property taxes to $13 million per year.
How will you minimize construction impacts on Burnaby neighbourhoods?
The proposed Trans Mountain Expansion Project includes development at the existing Westridge Marine Terminal and Burnaby Terminal locations. Measures to minimize construction impacts include:
- Minimizing light disturbance
- Developing Noise Control Plans covering construction scheduling, low-noise equipment, vehicle operation and the use of enclosures and baffles to reduce sound.
- Traffic mitigation
- Returning temporary construction space and right-of-way to pre-construction conditions, to the extent possible.
- A Worker Code of Conduct
How does the Project address air quality issues related to Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal?
Multiple federal, provincial and regional regulatory agencies are involved in managing air quality related to Trans Mountain’s Burnaby Terminal and Westridge Marine Terminal. Despite more active terminal operations in both locations, the emissions management system we are putting in place will ensure compliance with Metro Vancouver air quality objectives. Nuisance odours are not anticipated from our expanded operations. Project investments would include new Vapour Recovery Units to control emissions during ship loading at Westridge Marine Terminal and Tank Vapour Units to control odours on new tanks at Burnaby Terminal.
How will you minimize environmental impacts?
Our goal is to protect the environment, have as little impact as possible and where we do have an impact, to ensure we are returning the land to its original function. Kinder Morgan Canada is developing Environmental Protection Plans that describe the mitigation measures we will take and their adequacy for addressing Project effects.
How will you ensure the interests of Aboriginal communities are respected?
Trans Mountain is committed to working with Aboriginal communities in a spirit of co-operation and shared responsibility. We seek to build long-term relationships based on mutual respect and trust to achieve our respective business and community objectives.
Through a robust and inclusive process, Trans Mountain has engaged with more than 130 Aboriginal communities located along the pipeline and marine corridor in Alberta and British Columbia to share information, understand how community interests may be affected and to work together to address any questions or concerns. Trans Mountain is proud of the partnerships it has formed with Aboriginal communities to share in economic opportunities, including entering into Mutual Benefit Agreements in support of the Project.
