The coast is now clear for the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion..Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada announced they will not hear an appeal against the pipeline brought forward by several B.C. Indigenous groups..The country’s top court dismissed an application from the Squamish Nation, Tsleil-Waututh Nation, Ts’elxweyeqw Tribes and Coldwater Indian Band..As usual, he court did not release reasons for its decision Thursday..Alberta Energy Minister Sonya Savage was thrilled with the decision..“Today’s ruling puts an end to legal challenges that have delayed (Trans Mountain) dating back to 2013,” Savage tweeted..“The majority of Canadians, including First Nations communities want to share in the economic benefits brought by this project. Not only is TMX critically important to Alberta, but it also unlocks direct access to tidewater for Canadian oil benefiting the entire country.”. Defying crackdown, hundreds march against lockdowns in Calgary .Meanwhile, the RCMP is still investigating an arson fire that destroyed a $1-million piece of equipment helping building the TMX pipeline in B.C..Western Standard sources said the May 19 fire, near Merritt destroyed a 3-Line cable puller, worth about $1-million..The equipment was burned down to the frame..RCMP have confirmed the fire and said the same piece of equipment was vandalized a day earlier and also had fuel stolen from it..The feds bought the Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5 billion in May, 2018, after Kinder Morgan, pulled out because of political and environmental opposition..In February, the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the latest attempt by four B.C. indigenous groups to quash the Government of Canada’s approval of the TMX clearing the way for the 1,150-km, 890,000 bbl/d line between Edmonton and Burnaby..The cost to complete the project, from Alberta to the lower mainland, now stands at $12.6 billion..Construction along the entire route should be complete in 2022..The original Trans Mountain Pipeline was built in 1953 and the expansion is essentially a twinning of this existing 1,150-kilometre route..The system will go from approximately 300,000 barrels per day to 890,000 barrels per day..Dave Naylor is the News Editor of the Western Standard.dnaylor@westernstandardonline.com.Twitter.com/nobby7694
