OTTAWA, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/11/13 -- The Honourable Joe Oliver, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, today released the following statement in response to Kinder Morgan's announcement of the proposed Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project.

"Our government welcomes proposals that would - subject to proper regulatory review - create jobs and generate revenues for critical social programs like health care and education," said Minister Oliver. "We know that 99 percent of Canada's oil exports are transported to the United States, whose need for imported oil will decline sharply in the coming years. Canada must therefore develop the capacity to transport our energy to countries that will need it, in an environmentally responsible way."

"Our government is keeping taxes low and opening up new markets which helps make natural resources projects viable and supports prosperity across Canada. In British Columbia alone, resource industries support 100,000 direct jobs. They also make up 13 percent of its economy, and account for 80 percent of British Columbia's exports."

Minister Oliver noted that the proposed Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion Project is subject to independent, science-based regulatory review and can only proceed if it meets strict environmental safety standards. Strengthened environmental protections introduced by our government already include a mandatory requirement for double-hulled tankers, further increasing the number of inspections of federally-regulated pipelines by 50%, doubling the amount of annual audits, mandatory pilotage of vessels and increasing navigational tools and that work continues.

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