Pipeline approval swiftly sparks protests and reactions in Vancouver and across the Internet

The federal government’s approval of two pipeline projects, including the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, is sparking a swift reaction from many Vancouverites and politicians who opposed the plan. Hours after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave the green light on Tuesday to the Trans Mountain expansion project, which will cut through the Vancouver suburbs, opponents staged a rally.

Currently, the Trans Mountain pipeline transports 300,000 barrels of oil a day from Edmonton to the Burrard Inlet in Burnaby, B.C. The proposed expansion, which would twin the line, increases that number to 890,000 barrels a day. The plan would also spike the number of tankers that travel through the inlet, which makes many First Nations and other residents of the area unsettled, due to the increased risk of oil spills.

ALSO READ: ‘I think we are going to see a Standing Rock’: Local opponents react to approval of 2 pipelines

ALSO READ: Kinder Morgan asks opponents of Trans Mountain expansion to be ‘respectful’

Prominent environmentalist David Suzuki wrote on the David Suzuki Foundation Instagram account, “This isn’t climate action. Climate leaders don’t expand pipelines.” He also encouraged his followers to contact the prime minister.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, who’s been a vocal opponent of the pipeline, released a statement, expressing his disappointment with the decision, calling it “a big step backwards.”

Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan also issued a statement, saying he was “disappointed and depressed” by the decision, but would be seeking legal advice on how “best to continue to fight it.”

ALSO READ: B.C. Liberal MPs bracing for constituents after Kinder Morgan pipeline approval

Vancouver Quadra MP Joyce Murray said in a measured statement that Cabinet’s decision “is very disappointing” but supported her colleagues for an “inclusive approach to decision making that considers more voices, a greater diversity of viewpoints and wider consultation and consideration than ever before.”

NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said in a statement that Canadians have been “misled” while Green Party leader Elizabeth May called the decision “political opportunism of the worst kind.”

On Twitter, Chief Bob Chamberlin, vice president of Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, posted a video of Johnny Rotten asking a crowd if they’ve ever felt cheated.

Some cartoonists also took to Twitter to express themselves:

B.C. Premier Christy Clark said on Wednesday that the five conditions required for the province’s support of the pipeline’s expansion were close to being met by the federal government.

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