The federal fisheries minister says the anticipated increase in tanker traffic should cabinet approve the expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline will have little impact on the endangered southern resident killer whales in the waters off B.C. So irrespective of whether Trans Mountain proceeds there's a need for us to actually address issues around marine traffic." The National Energy Board on Friday confirmed its original decision that the controversial expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline is in the national interest and should be approved. She argues that the government has shown again that Trans Mountain takes precedence over the killer whales and the marine environment. The Georgia Strait Alliance was one of the interveners in the marine protections element of the Trans Mountain expansion.

Source: CBC News February 23, 2019 10:52 UTC