Ottawa, ON – Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops–Thompson–Cariboo, issued the following statement on Sept. 7, 2018, after the Trudeau Liberals used their Parliament majority to end debate on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
“Today I came to Ottawa to ask the Liberal Government for their plan to build the Trans Mountain Pipeline. Last week’s ruling from the Federal Court of Appeal overturned the federal government’s approval of the expansion and brought construction to a halt.
“This is Justin Trudeau’s personal failure and has far-reaching ramifications. Trudeau has spent $4.5 billion in taxpayer money to buy a pipeline and has presented no plan to Canadians for getting it built. But rather than be accountable to Canadians, the Liberals shut down debate.
“In an emergency meeting today of a House of Commons committee, I advocated for First Nations and non-First Nations communities in our riding and across British Columbia who are waiting for the significant results to benefit agreements. Hundreds of millions of dollars in benefits, job training, employment and business opportunities were painstakingly negotiated – all of this work will be for nothing if Trudeau doesn’t get the job done.
“Meanwhile, the National Energy Board reported that more than 200,000 barrels of crude oil was transported by rail in Canada every single day. Pipelines are the safest, most efficient means to transport; yet Trudeau’s failure to get Trans Mountain built is increasing pressure on our rail lines.
“Justin Trudeau needs to immediately outline a concrete plan to ensure that the Trans Mountain Expansion is actually completed.”
