'Funeral' protest staged at Burnaby tank farm over social distancing

Members of a group called Extinction Rebellion marched a funeral casket labelled “Covid Kills” in front of buses carrying workers heading to the tank farm in North Burnaby.

 

The NOW wrote about this issue on March 31, with area residents expressing concerns about if workers are practicing physical distancing measures at the construction site. Photos submitted to the NOW showed workers grouped closely together. (See an example below.)

Extinction Rebellion expressed concerns about if workers on site were practicing social distancing.

“We are here showing Trans Mountain what social distancing truly looks like by separating ourselves within our logos because the facility is not practicing its own distancing protocols,” read a statement from the group. “They are risking workers’ lives, those of the community and of the true essential service workers. It is imperative that these construction sites are shut down during the pandemic.”

In a statement to the NOW for the previous story on this issue, Trans Mountain said the company and its contractors are “adhering to the two-metre rule, including in busing” as part of its COVID-19 response plan.

“We are increasing bus, vehicle and trailer cleaning requirements and frequency,” Trans Mountain said in an statement. “We continue to work with our construction contractors to revisit and update plans and monitor implementation, and together (we) are adapting to COVID-19 developments accordingly.”

Trans Mountain pointed to its website, where further social-distancing protocols are listed, including staggering shifts and breaks, cancelling unnecessary meetings and holding necessary meetings outside, and checking people entering the site for fever or other symptoms of COVID-19.

In a statement posted to the Crown corporation’s website, CEO Ian Anderson said he is “confident we have executed all the requirements of health authorities and governments.”

“I can assure all Canadians, we will do everything in our power to not put workers, communities and Indigenous Peoples at any COVID-19 risk,” Anderson said. “If there is an escalation in the health officials’ guidance, or if we are not confident we can provide a safe workplace, we will initiate safe … stand-down procedures.”

[Top photo: Extinction Rebellion protesters at Trans Mountain's Burnaby tank farm.]