Trudeau says yes to Trans Mountain pipeline

Enbridge proposal in Alberta also gets the OK from Liberals

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved two major oil pipeline expansions Tuesday, including the deeply controversial Trans Mountain line through suburban Vancouver, while maintaining his government remains on course to meet its international climate commitments.

The announcement ends the new Liberal government’s year-long high wire act seeking to balance environmental stewardship and expansion of Canada’s resource economy.

“We are under no illusions that the decision we made today will be bitterly disputed by a number of people across the country who would rather we had made another decision,” Trudeau — flanked by a number of his senior cabinet ministers — told a news conference in Ottawa.

“We took this decision today because we believe it is in the best interests of Canada and Canadians.”

The Liberals have been setting the stage for pipeline approvals for months, highlighting environmental policy moves like a national carbon price while making the case that the jobs, economic boost and government revenues from fossil fuel exports are critical to the transformation to a low-carbon future. It’s been a tough sell. Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion has become a lightning rod for climate protests from coast to coast.

Police suspect the underlying cause of most of the crashes is a simple lack of warning to motorists about the change of speed limit and sharp corner ahead, according to the leader of the RCMP’s South Okanagan Traffic Services Unit.

“I think (the corner) could probably use a little better markings,” said RCMP Cpl. Ted Manchulenko.

“And I say that because you could drive 100 km/h all the way from Kelowna without even blinking an eye, and then all of a sudden that corner is the only real left-hand, tight, sharp corner for miles and miles,” he continued.

“It may catch people unaware — notwithstanding the fact you should be aware if you’re driving 5,000 pounds of steel.”

But the Transportation Ministry believes previous additions of signage along the roadway have made the highway safe enough.

“The improvements to the warning signs at this location are having the desired effect of improving safety,” the ministry said in a statement.

“As with all of our highways, we will continue to monitor this location to ensure that safety is maintained to the highest standard.”