More than 100 Central Albertans made it clear they want the Kinder Morgan pipeline built.
The non-partisan Rally 4 Resources group hosted the rally to support the Trans Mountain expansion project Saturday by the Sheraton Hotel, where the Alberta United Conservative Party founding AGM was underway.
“I hope the pipeline gets built – it’s plain and simple,” said Red Deer’s Haley Wile. “I hope that we can remove some of the red tape to get more projects going. Everyone’s out here because we all support Canadian energy and we also support pipelines. We realize the importance of pipelines is prosperity for the whole country.”
Rally attendees held up signs such as Honk for Trans Mountain, Respect the Rule of Law. We need pipelines while asking drivers to show support by honking.
Wile said there is always more that can be done to get the pipeline built, but she appreciates the work of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.
“They’re very confident and so are we – this project will get built and we’re excited about it. Canada’s excited about it,” she said.
Bill Greenwood, also from Red Deer, said the federal government is getting in the way of the project.
“The feds don’t want Trans Mountain to go through. Their inaction on this is very telling and they think somewhere along there will magically be something to replace this commerce,” he said.
Greenwood said he’s tired of governments interfering with “perfectly good commerce.”
“We have multiple levels of government standing in the way of perfectly good, perfectly safe and very profitable commerce that pays for thousands of government jobs,” said Greenwood.
The oil industry provides a source of energy everyone needs, Greenwood added.
“Nobody can get through the day without using carbon-based fuels in some fashion, unless they’re partying like it’s 1492,” he said.
Red Deer’s Jim Martin, a former pipeline welder, said it’s important the pipeline gets built.
“I’m sick and tired of all the bureaucratic BS holding us back,” Martin said.
Martin said the government needs to expand the oil industry, not limit it.
“It’s ridiculous we only have one customer, and that’s the United States. It’s obvious we should have customers all over the world,” Martin said.
For more information on Rally 4 Resources, visit www.rally4resources.com.
sean.mcintosh@reddeeradvocate.com
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