Records show that the total costs of the taxpayer-owned Trans Mountain Pipeline do not include millions of extra dollars in subsidies not properly disclosed..According to Blacklock’s Reporter, the government excluded additional subsidies to support its claim that “no more public money will be used to complete the Trans Mountain Expansion.”.“The government stands by its commitment that no more public money will be used,” said a department of Natural Resources memo. .The memo said other funds spent for related costs like indigenous engagement were not included since they were not for construction..In 2020, the government estimated that expanding the pipeline would cost $13.2 billion. However, this estimate was later changed to $21.4 billion. The most recent estimate suggests the cost has increased to $30.9 billion..“The newly revised cost estimate of $30.9 billion and construction timeline of late 2023 is due to a number of factors including global inflation and supply chain pressures,” said the March 21 memo Supplementary Estimates (C). .“No additional public money will be invested in this project as construction is completed.”.However, the latest figure does not include related expenses like $32 million to address “concerns raised by indigenous groups regarding the Trans Mountain Expansion project,” said the memo. .The money for the pipeline was paid using funds from five different government departments, which were Natural Resources, Fisheries, Transport, Environment, and the Canadian Coast Guard..“This funding is not for the Trans Mountain Expansion construction,” said the memo. .“This funding is to continue to deliver on the government’s indigenous accommodation commitments and to address potential impacts to indigenous rights.”.So far, the government has yet to share the total amount of money taxpayers have spent on the pipeline..“We’d like to see where all the money went,” Conservative MP Greg McLean (Calgary Centre, AB) earlier told the Commons Natural Resources committee..Environmental Defence (ED), an opponent of the Trans Mountain project, in 2022 called the project a “financially dangerous boondoggle” that should be halted. “There will be no profits, only financial losses for Canadians,” Julia Levin, ED climate program manager, said in a statement..In 2018, then-Finance Minister Bill Morneau nationalized the Kinder Morgan line for $4.5 billion. Morneau promised that this decision would lead to profitability for the pipeline..“We make a profit,” Morneau testified at 2020 hearings of the Commons Finance committee..“What is the limit the federal government is willing to put public funds into the project?” asked New Democrat MP Peter Julian (New Westminster-Burnaby, BC). .“Is it $20 billion? Is it $25 billion? Or is the sky the limit?”.“The Canadian approach will be to ensure that we make a profit,” replied Morneau. .“So that’s where we’re at on that. We believe this is the right thing for us to do, to deal with a political challenge.”
