Caving in to untruths

It’s not easy doing business in Canada. Just ask Kinder Morgan. As it worked to “get to yes” on its plans to expand the Trans Mountain pipeline, the company spent years meeting with Indigenous communities, with municipalities, with businesses, with politicians, with NGOs, and with concerned citizens. It saw new governments rise, from Rachel Notley’s NDP in Alberta to Justin Trudeau’s Liberal in Ottawa. And, after years of effort, and a 29-month independent review by the National Energy Board, Trans Mountain secured regulatory approval, subject to 157 environmental and technical conditions.

The project was then approved by Prime Minister Trudeau. The B.C. government followed suit, adding another 37 conditions. For Canadians worried about the risks of an oil spill, 194 conditions plus a commitment by the federal government to invest $1.5 billion to protect our coastline, should provide comfort that no jurisdiction in the world brings its natural resources to market as safely as Canada.

However, it appears “getting to yes” is just one step in a very long journey. Once approved, the challenge becomes “sticking to yes.”

Desjardins, the biggest credit union group in the country and one of the institutions involved in financing Trans Mountain, announced earlier this month that it would suspend its funding of pipeline projects in Canada and will decide in September whether to end the practice permanently. This shift in policy could impact not only Trans Mountain but also other important pipeline projects.

Desjardins was pressured by radical activists who oppose nearly everything about Canada’s energy industry and, given its announcement, have too many leaks already (they don’t); and that the Fraser River will be damaged (it won’t be).

The fact that a large Canadian financial institution like Desjardins is buckling to activists who have no interest in an honest debate on Canada’s energy resources is troubling.

The energy sector accounts for a significant part of Canada’s prosperity. More than 425,000 people support