Coquitlam mayor wants compensation for Trans Mountain pipeline costs
Posted June 19, 2019 11:00 am.
Last Updated June 19, 2019 11:53 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
COQUITLAM (NEWS 1130) – Coquitlam wants to be compensated for costs it says it will pay because of the Trans Mountain expansion.
Mayor Richard Stewart believes his city will be on the hook for around $1 million in maintenance as the pipeline will be built under his city’s streets.
“The costs of operating the pipeline and the extra costs associated with road maintenance above the pipeline should be born by the pipeline company,” says Stewart. “And while they agree in principle with that, up until now we haven’t yet seen an agreement from Trans Mountain.”
He says that cities should not be providing subsidies to pipeline companies, especially when they will be making billions in profits.
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Stewart adds that road maintenance or water and sewer pipe replacement around where the existing pipeline runs has higher associated costs.
The city must also get approval from the company in order to do any repairs or maintenance, even thought they are on city land.
Stewart says Coquitlam will speak with Trans Mountain specifically about compensation, and if needed, the National Energy Board.
“We’re not interested in subsidizing a private pipeline, or for that matter, a pipeline that’s essentially intended for export,” says Stewart. “We shouldn’t be subsidizing pipelines at all.”
