Protesters, some in dinosaur costumes, disrupted a Burnaby City Council meeting to award Mayor Mike Hurley and council with the 'Dinosaur of 2025 Award' for a controversial agreement with Trans Mountain Corp. The agreement, signed secretly, will see Trans Mountain pay Burnaby $20.1 million over 21 years for safety improvements, but critics call it a 'gag order' due to restrictions on public communication.
Protest ers marched on Burnaby City Hall Tuesday evening, at least one clad in an inflatable dinosaur costume, disrupting council proceedings twice before gathering outside the building. Local activist groups, including T-Rex Against TMX and Mountain Protectors, bestowed the first-ever 'Dinosaurs of 2025 Award' upon Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley and the city council for a controversial agreement with Trans Mountain Corp.
The agreement, signed in a confidential meeting in September, will see Trans Mountain pay the city $20.1 million over the next 21 years to bolster the city's emergency response program. It also prohibits both the city and Trans Mountain from issuing any 'negative public communications' about each other, 'whether based on fact or opinion or otherwise.' 'Mayor Mike Hurley and Burnaby councillors are going the way of the dinosaur!' read a pamphlet distributed at the rally. 'In a secret meeting, they signed the sweetheart deal (a.k.a. 'community contribution agreement') with Trans Mountain Corp. (TMX), an operator of the Trans Mountain pipelines and one of Canada's major polluters transporting diluted bitumen from the tar sands.' The groups, also including Stop TMX and SFU 350, characterized the agreement as a 'gag order.' Activists asserted that the Dinosaur Award is an attempt to guide the council 'back to the right path' by rejecting the money. 'It's a reminder that they have responsibilities to the people, not a state-owned corporation.' Protesters in inflatable dinosaur costumes disrupted the council meeting at two points during the night, shouting, 'Burnaby Mountain is worth saving.' Security personnel and RCMP officers escorted the protesters out of the council chambers. Burnaby RCMP Cpl. Mike Kalanj informed the Burnaby NOW that one person was apprehended and held, then released after the council meeting concluded. He stated that the individual was arrested for 'causing a disturbance.' Police anticipate no charges will be filed, according to Kalanj. The federal Green Party has also criticized Burnaby's Trans Mountain deal. Trans Mountain declined an interview request from the NOW in October to discuss the agreement. Burnaby Mayor Talks 'Gag Order' After the meeting, Hurley told the NOW he respects people's right to protest. 'I'm as frustrated as they are about Trans Mountain,' Hurley said. 'It was pushed down our throats.' 'It's funny, because we were the ones who fought it all the way, and we did use every tool in our toolbox to try and stop it. However, now ... three ships a day are coming in. You know? It's all up and running; it's not like we're going to stop it. And my concern is providing safety for the residents of Burnaby.' The NOW inquired if the city can put a price on safety. 'No, I don't think you can,' Hurley replied. 'There's no amount of money (that) will ever subsidize us for the danger that's been brought into our city and for all the harm that can happen. No amount of money would ever be worth that for Burnaby.' But he stated that the city requires funding for an emergency road near the pipeline terminal, which he claimed costs $2 million. He also refuted the notion that the agreement could be deemed a 'gag order.' 'I can say whatever I want,' he asserted. He pointed out that city staff must maintain a relationship with Trans Mountain to discuss public safety, but it's not their responsibility to criticize. 'If something goes wrong, you can be sure that I'll be the first one speaking.' With files from Cornelia Naylo
Trans Mountain Burnaby Protest Mayor Hurley City Council Pipeline Agreement Gag Order Dinosaur Award
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