The National Day of Action to Defend the Water didn’t pass by Maple Ridge Friday as a handful of protesters picketed and sang outside Liberal MP Dan Ruimy’s downtown office.
“This is a national day of action to send a message to (Prime Minister Justin) Trudeau that business as usual is no longer acceptable,” said organizer Mike Gildersleeve.
He’s opposed to the twinning of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, also known as the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project, from Alberta to Burnaby, and says the project will increase the number of oil tankers in Burrard Inlet from a current number of seven per month to 35.
Trans Mountain is legally entitled to build its pipeline after the federal government gave approval in the belief it is in the best interest of Canada.
But the project represents a threat to the economy and jobs and environment, said Gildersleeve. “It’s not if, it’s when there’s a spill.”
“You cannot address Climate Action Plan goals and approve Kinder Morgan,” Gildersleeve said.
He, along with the seniors group The Raging Grannies, brought out signs to make their point, one of which dated back four years, addressing the same issue.