Beech feels heat over pipeline purchase
MP ‘not going to get re-elected,’ according to group opposed to expansion project
Federal Liberals representing ridings with opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project are facing increasing pressure from frustrated residents after the Trudeau government’s announcement to buy the pipeline for $4.5 billion.
One of those officials is Liberal MP Terry Beech, who represents the riding of Burnaby-North Seymour, home to what’s known as “ground zero” of the opposition movement.
“He’s not going to get re-elected,” said Janice Edmonds, founder of North Shore NOPE, a group representing residents who are opposed to the plan, some of which live in Beech’s riding. “He used to be strongly against the pipeline, but recently hasn’t been speaking up like he used to.”
Beech’s riding also houses Kinder Morgan’s Westridge Marine Terminal and the Burnaby terminal tank farm.
“His political career is over at this point in terms of representing the people of North Burnaby,” said Peter McCartney with the Wilderness Committee. “What does he have to lose by making some noise, or crossing the floor?”
Reached on Tuesday, Beech’s office said he’s “reviewing the details closely, and will be doing so for the next couple days” before making an announcement.
In 2016, Beech told the federal government’s ministerial panel that “the people of Burnaby NorthSeymour on balance stand opposed to this project, and that the community does not grant its permission for this project to proceed.” He then detailed issues of consideration in a presented report.
“The report does reflect the views of his constituents,” said Ruth Walmsley of the Burnaby Residents Opposed to Kinder Morgan Expansion (BROKE). “But the unfortunate reality is that the Liberal federal government is choosing to go ahead without it.”
Walmsley ’s group has held several protest events outside Beech’s office since the 2015 federal election.
“Unfortunately we don’t feel he’s being effective carrying our concerns in Ottawa. He may be carrying our concerns, but it hasn’t resulted in any meaningful change, and it will affect the outcome of the next election.”
In a 2015 debate, speaking in relation to the pipeline expansion, Beech said that “no project can go ahead without the support of the community and without the support of partner First Nations.”
The Tsleil-Waututh and Squamish First Nations, both of which are included in Beech’s riding, launched legal challenges against Kinder Morgan.
“Beech should be standing up to what his campaign promises were about, in Ottawa,” said Rueben George, spokesperson for the Tsleil-Waututh Nation Sacred Trust Initiative.
“He should be protecting our coast.”
After a weeklong silence in 2016 following federal approval of the expansion project, Beech dismissed suggestions that he may cross the floor and reassured support for the cabinet. In 2017, Beech was one of two Liberal MPs who voted against a motion in support of the project in the House of Commons.
Meanwhile, neighbouring North Vancouver MP Jonathan Wilkinson defended the decision to purchase the pipeline.
“In the context of the uncertainty that was created very deliberately by the provincial government, it was the most appropriate thing that this government could do, to ensure that this project moves ahead,” said Wilkinson, who is the parliamentary secretary to the environment minister.
Joyce Murray, veteran Liberal MP for Vancouver Quadra, said in 2016 she was “disappointed” in the federal decision to approve the expansion project while explaining her riding felt lots of “angst” over the plan. She did not return repeated requests for comment on Wednesday.
Surrey Centre Liberal MP Randeep Sarai said the overall reaction in his riding has been positive.
“My constituents are pretty supportive of the pipeline and they understand that it’s in the national interest,” he said.