(Photo: Brock Ormond/Quinte News)
The environmental, economical, physical and financial impacts of the Alberta and British Columbia Kinder Morgan Pipeline Expansion cannot be overlooked, even here in Ontario.
That was the message from a small gathering of about 25 people at a town hall meeting held at Loyalist College Thursday evening.
Local citizens had their say on the pipeline and climate change issues in general after viewing Directly Affected, a documentary movie from BC-based filmmaker Zack Embree outlining the trials and tribulations of all the people involved in and affected by the project over the last several years.
This includes protests against police, the National Energy Board’s flawed process in approving the pipeline back in 2016, oil spills causing evacuations and the ways residents are trying to lower carbon emissions and improve the economy.
One of the main points of contention was the controversy surrounding a $4.5 billion buyout of the Trans Mountain pipeline by the government of Canada, which affects everybody country-wide.
In addition, concerns were raised about not being able to reach their 2030 Paris Agreement target of reducing emissions by 40%.
Lori Borthwick says it’s important to do whatever you can here in Ontario to help the environment and assist Alberta and B.C. residents through the Kinder Morgan Pipeline saga. (Photo: Brock Ormond/Quinte News)
Host and organizer of the event Lori Borthwick says it’s crucial for global temperature to avoid rising to two degrees and it starts with citizens being mindful of the environment.
She explains how environmental activists in the Quinte region will do their part to assist in reducing the carbon footprint.
Borthwick adds they hope to make Quinte a “blue dot community”, where they can use their vast resources to work on more solar projects.
Borthwick says the importance of raising awareness to local politicians and the entire Quinte community is crucial to maintaining a strong and healthy country overall.
One citizen suggested that the aim should be at corporations to take action and force the government into focusing on clean, renewable energy and build for the future, instead of being stuck in the past with older technology.
