MP of riding seen as 'ground zero' for Kinder Morgan pipeline faces balancing act
Deborah Goble | CBC News | Posted: December 4, 2016 1:18 AM | Last Updated: December 4, 2016
'I think Terry really is trying to work with us to stop this project,' says Burnaby-North Seymour constituent
As a first time Liberal MP for Burnaby-North-Seymour, Terry Beech is facing the biggest political decision of his young career.
His riding straddles both sides of Burrard Inlet and is basically ground zero for the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project, which was approved by the Liberal government on Tuesday.
Once built, it will go right through the area, with storage tanks and infrastructure on Burnaby Mountain.
On Saturday, Beech's constituents came to his riding office for an open house armed with questions.
"How do we go forward? What is your position and how will you spend your time?" Those are some of the questions Beech said people asked him. "And that is all part of my process for working this out."
Many of the people in his riding have been opposed to the project and have participated in rallies and petitions against it.
'Speak up, be vocal'
"I want him to speak up and at least be a vocal opposition at least within his own party," said Hassan Merali who was at Beech's office on Saturday
Beech is seen as an up and coming Liberal, with an MBA from the University of Oxford. He is already a parliamentary secretary, which is a position seen as a precursor to a cabinet post.
Now he's trying to decide whether to go against the choice made by his own party and the prime minister of the country.
But his constituents, at least those who came to his open house, seem to still have faith in Beech.
"I think Terry really is trying to work with us to stop this project," said Susanne Jackson.
"I think it is the responsibility of our elected officials to represent the interests of constituents. That's what it means to be in a democracy and I think he's doing a good job," added Nilima Nigam.
Meanwhile constituent Laura Benson expects Beech to work against his party's wishes in Ottawa.
"We know we can stop this project and we know Terry has been representing our interests in Ottawa."
Beech, however, says he wants to take some time — at least a week — before stating a position.
"As an MP, I have to wear three hats," he said.
"Personal values — I have to be able to look at myself in the mirror — you have to represent constituents' values and fight for your local community and then you have to look at the national interests, and I try to balance that the best I can."
with files from Deborah Goble.