(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)
December 13, 2016 - 1:59 PM
KAMLOOPS - A mutual benefit agreement has been signed between Kinder Morgan Canada, the company behind the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, and Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc First Nation.
The agreement includes a commitment by the operators of the Trans Mountain pipeline to provide direct benefits to the First Nation via employment, training, business opportunities and supporting infrastructure upgrades, according to a Kinder Morgan media release. The confidential agreement was announced today, Dec. 13, though the details have not been made public.
The construction phase of the pipleline will create 15,000 jobs, followed by 37,000 direct and indirect positions operating, the release says. No word where those jobs will be located or how many would be in the Kamloops region.
Kinder Morgan isn't saying if the First Nation will receive any direct financial compensation.
“The outcome that we reached in the mutual benefit agreement involved a collaborative process, always keeping our members’ interests at the forefront, resulting in training, employment and contract opportunities for Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc members and compensation for the inequities dating back to 1953," Seymour says in the release.
The original pipeline was constructed in 1953. The $6.8 billion expansion project will follow much of the same route from Edmonton through B.C. to Vancouver, but in Kamloops some rerouting may occur. The expansion will almost triple the pipeline's capacity.
Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc Chief Fred Seymour and Ian Anderson, Kinder Morgan Canada president answer community questions about the Expansion Project at Moccasin Square Garden.
Image Credit: Contributed
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