Current Trans Mountain plan not in Burnaby’s best interest: BBOT

Burnaby | BCBusiness
Burnaby.

THE#BCBIZDAILY
Need-to-know news and insight for Thursday, Jan. 15

At what cost
The Burnaby Board of Trade released an independent review of the Trans Mountain Expansion Project’s potential impacts on Burnaby after nearly a year of research on Wednesday. The report, balancing both pros and cons of pipeline expansion, ultimately concludes that while it recognizes the need to reach new markets for Canada’s oil—notably Asia—the Board is wary of the proposal as it stands, “particularly with respect to the impact of seismic activity on the pipeline, the equitable distribution of economic benefits from the project, the appropriateness of an urban setting as the terminus, and the breakdown of the relationship between the project proponent and local stakeholders,” says the review, which you can read online.

The permits to prove it
The value of building permits issued by the City of Vancouver set an all-time record in 2014, $2.83 billion. That’s 28 per cent higher than in 2013 and 77 per cent above 2008’s figure (when the recession was in full swing). “An all-time record for building permit values is an important example of how Vancouver’s economic action strategy is working,” Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson said in a release on Wednesday. The city published more details here.

Basic necessities
A B.C. First Nation has banned bottled water. But the reason may not be what you think. The Tsal’alh nation, near Lillooet, is hoping to raise awareness regarding the poor quality of drinking water in many native communities. A handful of the 91 First Nations affected by poor water quality have been under boil water advisories for the last decade. (via CBC)