Winnipeggers rally against Canada's buyout of Kinder Morgan pipeline

A Liberal MP in Winnipeg willmeet with critics of the federal government's plantobuy the Kinder Morgan pipelinefor $4.5 billion.

In an arranged phone call from Ottawa,Winnipeg North MP KevinLamoureux told protesters over speakerphone Monday he would entertain an in-person meetingand perhaps host a larger town hallto hear resident concerns.

The protest was one of more than 100 ralliesheld today at constituency offices nationwide as part of the National Day of Action against the government's controversial plan.

Criticsarguethe pipelineisinconsistent with Canada's commitment to reduce emissions.

After a dozen environmentalists gathered outside Lamoureux's office, the Winnipeg rally movedtotheoffices of MP Jim Carr and Robert-Falcon Ouellette. As of 4 p.m., protesters were outside Portage Place Shopping Centre. The rally grew to include dozens of people, holding various banners and signs.

While on the phone with Lamoureux, protester Bryce Weedmarkheld a sign that read it would cost less money $3.2 billion to provide clean drinking water on First Nation reserves than buying a pipeline unlikely to be a return on investment.

He toldLamoureuxit doesn'tsound like a good deal.

"I do believe that it's in Canada's best interest to proceed," Lamoureux replied. "I honestly believe that the amount we'veput into it will, in fact, be returned to us at some point in time."

He said the pipeline looks after the country's best interests economically, while respecting the environment and indigenous concerns.

"It can be done in an environmentally friendly fashion," Lamoureux said. "At the end of the day, I believe the science is there to support it."

As the phone call was about to conclude, Shawn Kettner, member of the Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition,butted in to tellLamoureux his answers were aggravating.

"Nothing that you said today makes me feel any better," she said.

Bill left to taxpayers: environmentalist

"If Kinder Morgan won't invest in this pipeline, why the hell should Canadians do that? Why should we take our hard-earned money and spend it and support the Kinder Morgan pipeline?"

The government has said proceeding with the pipeline, which has faced stiff opposition from the B.C. government, environmental activists and some Indigenous groups,willpreserve jobs and get valuable resources toworld markets.

The expansion will cost billions more than the initial purchase price, with Kinder Morgan projecting the expansion to cost$7.4 billion.

Ottawa intends to eventually transfer the project and related assets to a new owner or owners.