May 16, 2018 the Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime
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May 16, 2018 The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada Langevin Block Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A2 Dear Prime Minister: As President of the Alberta Urban Municipalities Association (AUMA), I am writing to you on behalf of our Board and our members, including the undersigned municipalities from across Alberta, regarding the important issue of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project. At AUMA’s 2017 Convention, nearly 1,100 councillors and mayors representing urban municipalities of all sizes across Alberta voted overwhelmingly in favour of a resolution supporting the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion and urging our federal government and the Government of Alberta to ensure that the pipeline is built. We understand it is the federal government who has ultimate jurisdiction on inter- provincial trade. This is critical to our confederation. The diverse nature of our provinces and their competing economic and political interests require a broader national view with the authority to protect the national interest. This is one of the bedrocks of our great nation, and why your support and intervention is so critical. We recognize the efforts you have already undertaken by putting in place a rigorous approval process, acknowledging that this project is in the national interest, and approving the project to move forward. The Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion has faced one of the most rigorous reviews of any pipeline project in our nation’s history, a process unmatched anywhere else in the world. There has been an extensive multi-year regulatory process and expert review of the environmental and safety impacts by the National Energy Board, which placed 157 conditions on the project that Trans Mountain has met. The project received the approval of the National Energy Board only after extensive consultations with the three orders of government, indigenous communities, and landowners. The project also passed assessments by the British Columbia Environmental Assessment Office and Transport Canada. As municipal leaders, we know full well the impacts a project of this magnitude can have on our province and on our communities. As municipalities, we are the first responders to emergency events and have to always the safety of our communities in mind. We know Page 2 the challenge of making sound decisions in land use planning to balance growth and protecting the environment, as we face them every day. But we also understand the benefits. Economic In Alberta alone, we expect municipalities will collect $124 million in taxes over 20 years from the operations of the Trans Mountain Pipeline. This increased revenue will reduce the tax burden on our residents, and provide funding to build and maintain important municipal infrastructure, such as transportation, recreation, and housing. At a national level, the Trans Mountain expansion is a $7.4 billion project that will create short-term construction jobs but also significant long-term employment along the route and at the Burnaby terminal. And it will take an important step in addressing the large gap between global oil prices and what Canadian companies can get for their product. Environmental From a municipal perspective, pipelines are the safest way to transport oil. With the growing pressure on our existing pipeline infrastructure, more and more oil companies are being forced to turn to rail and trucks to transport their product to market. These methods often take products through municipalities, and have a greater risk of an incident that could impact people and property. In the case of Trans Mountain, they are utilizing the existing route, which will reduce the overall impact to land development. Across the board, we know pipelines are safer, cheaper and generate fewer emissions than the alternatives. The undersigned represent the branch of government closest to the residents of Alberta and the communities that will be impacted by and benefit from this project. We offer our voices in support of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project and in your government’s efforts to bring this project to fruition to the benefit of all Canadians. Sincerely, Barry Morishita AUMA President If you would like to discuss this matter further, please feel free to contact me by email at [email protected] or my cell phone at (403) 363-9224. CC: The Honourable Rachel Notley, M.L.A., Premier of Alberta The Honourable John Horgan, M.L.A., Premier of British Columbia The Honourable Jim Carr, P.C., M.P., Minister of Natural Resources Canada Page 3 Barry Morishita, Don Iveson, Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Don Scott, Mayor Mayor City of Edmonton Mayor R.M. of Wood Buffalo City of Brooks City of Calgary Aaron Canna, Mayor Tyler Warman, Mayor Gerald S. Aalbers, Bill Given, Mayor Village of Innisfree Town of Slave Lake Mayor City Grande Prairie City of Lloydminster Vern Lymburner, William Choy, Mayor Teresa Beets, Mayor Jeff Ludwig, Mayor Mayor Town of Stony Plain Summer Village of Summer Village of Town of Valleyview Sunbreaker Cove Norglenwold Ted Hiscock, Mayor Bob Thomlinson, Gordon Wilson, Mayor Sandi Benford, Mayor Summer Village of Mayor Summer Village of Summer Village of Halfmoon Bay Summer Village of Point Alison Southview Jarvis Bay Stuart Houston, Caroline McAuley, Rick Bonnett, Mayor Ted Clugston, Mayor Mayor Mayor Town of Ponoka City of Medicine Hat City of Spruce Grove Town of Vermilion Cathy Heron, Mayor Craig Copeland, Chris Turnmire, Leslie Ganshirt, Mayor City of St. Albert Mayor Mayor Village of Alliance City of Cold Lake Town of Wembley Page 4 Brian Bethune, Mayor Morris Nesdole, Scott Schroeder, Ken Kultgen, Mayor Town of Wainwright Mayor Mayor Village of Foremost Summer Village of Village of Milo Sunset Beach Del Bodnarek, Mayor Bob Young, Mayor David Sisley, Mayor Gary Rowntree, Village of Barnwell City of Leduc Village of Delia Mayor Town of Turner Valley Wendy Belik, Mayor Marvin Jassman, Ian Daykin, Mayor Peter Golankski, Village of Edgerton Mayor Village of Edberg Mayor Village of Ferintosh S.V of Bondiss Dawn Pauls, Mayor Donna Buchinski, Rick Pankiw, Mayor Claude Lagace, Mayor Village of Hay Lakes Mayor Town of Rimbey Town of Sexsmith Town of Falher Colleen Powell, Mayor Kathie Write, Mayor Bill Skinner, Mayor Peter F Braun, Mayor Town of Athabasca Village of Longview Town of Lamont MacKenzie County Tim Wiles, Mayor Gordon MacLeod, Omer Moghrabi, Marshall Chalmers, Summer Village of Mayor Mayor Mayor Kapasiwin Town of Fairview Lac La Biche County City of Chestermere Page 5 Mike Yargeau, Mayor Keith Wilson, Mayor Peter Brown, Mayor Sean Nolls, Mayor Town of Penhold Summer Village of City of Airdrie Town of Stettler West Baptiste Tara Veer, Mayor Blair Morton, Mayor Chris Warwick, Mayor Lorne Young, Mayor City of Red Deer Summer Village of Town of Hanna Town of Elk Point Parkland Beach Brian Penasiuk, Ray Ralph, Mayor Myrna Lanctot, Mayor Richard Poole, Mayor Mayor Town of Devon Village of Donnelly Town of Blackfalds Town of High Prairie Russ Barnett, Mayor Mike Saric, Mayor John Stewart, Mayor Harold Esche, Mayor Town of Magrath Town of Mundare Town of Beaumont Summer Village of Burnstick Lake Rhonda Hunter, Mornam Mayer, Leo Chapdelaine, Kevin Zahara, Mayor Mayor Mayor Mayor Town of Edson Town of Didsbury City of Camrose Village of Vilna Allan Georget, Mayor Tyler Lindsay, Mayor Charlene Smylie Michael Doerksen, Town of Spirit River Village of Warner Mayor Mayor Village of Wabamun Town of Drayton Valley Page 6 Barry Turner, Mayor Tammy Burke, Mayor Gale Katchur, Mayor Perry Robinson, Town of Morinville Town of Rocky City of Fort Mayor Mountain House Saskatchewan Town of Sedgewick Dave McKenzie, Bill Marshall, Mayor Ed Weistra, Mayor Gene Sobolewski, Mayor Village of Rosemary Village of Barons Mayor Town of Barrhead Town of Bonnyville Rob Fehr, Mayor Craig Wilson, Mayor Blair Painter, Mayor Tom Tarpey, Mayor Village of Alix Town of Swan Hills Crowsnest Pass Town of Peace River Darcy Burke, Mayor Earl Debnam, Mayor Judy Tracy, Mayor Gerry Keane, Mayor Village of Rockyford Village of Bittern Lake Town of Onoway Summer Village of Larkspur Louis Belland, Mayor Ben Kellert, Mayor Ann Morrison, Mayor Grant Creasey, Mayor Summer Village of Village of Killam Summer Village of City of Lacombe Ross Haven Sunset Point Doug Thomas, Mayor Guss Nash, Mayor Warren Mickels, Heather Colberg, S.V of Seba Beach Village of Carbon Mayor Mayor Village of Cowley Town of Drumheller Page 7 Monte Christensen, Albert Elias, Mayor Al Henuset, Mayor Andrew Prokop, Mayor Village of Glenwood Village of Beiseker Mayor Village of Hill Spring Town of Taber James McTavish, Tim Frank, Mayor J. Michael Dennehy, Margaret Plumtree, Mayor Village of Hussar Mayor Mayor Village of Rosalind Town of Provost Town of Vauxhall Daryl Frank, Mayor Bob Regal, Mayor Rex Smith, Mayor Wally Yachimetz , Village of Kitscoty Town of Grimshaw Village of Mannville Mayor Town of Calmar Dan Deck, Mayor Carol Tremblay, Kim Craig, Mayor Maryann Chichak, Town of Gibbons Mayor Town of Coaldale Mayor Town of Legal Town of Whitecourt Jackie Peterson, Wm. (Bill) B. Lance Colby, Mayor Michelle Farris, Mayor Mayor Robertson, Mayor Town of Carstairs Town of Rainbow Town of Bassano Town of Okotoks Lake Mel Smith, Mayor Luci Henry, Mayor Jeff Genung, Mayor Ashley Hornseth, Town of Redwater Village of Clive Town of Cochrane Mayor Summer Village of Pelican Narrows Page 8 Brent Feyter, Mayor Kate Patrick, Mayor Crystal McAteer, Tony Owens, Mayor Town of Fort Town of Mayerthorpe Mayor Village of Consort MacLeod Town of High Level Gordon Reynolds, Ralph Leriger, Mayor Craig Snodgrass, Dan Hiller, Mayor Mayor Town of Westlock Mayor Summer Village of Town of Bow Island Town of High River Rochon Sands Nat Dvernichuk, Jim Palmer, Mayor Jim Romane, Mayor Gentry Hall, Mayor Mayor Village of Chipman Town of Innisfail Town of Stavely Village of Clyde Tom Grant, Mayor Doug Jones, Mayor Tim Shearlaw, Mayor Robb Stuart, Mayor Town of Vulcan Town of Oyen Town of Three Hills Town of Bowden Debora Dueck, Mayor Mark Stannard, Mayor Cheryl Eikeland, Dan Knudtson, Mayor Town of Tofield Town of Coronation Mayor Village of Donalda Village of Marwayne W.