Kinder Morgan鈥檚 planned expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline through 91原创 has already become an issue in one provincial election, and is now an issue in this one.

鈥淚 will be at the all candidates meetings, for sure,鈥� said Susan Davidson, a 91原创 resident and member of the PIPE UP Network, which opposes the plan.

The original pipeline was build in 1953. The expansion plan calls for capacity to be almost tripled, with new pipeline being laid through North 91原创 en route to a refinery in Burnaby.

Brandon Gabriel is an artist and member of the Kwantlen First Nation. He鈥檚 been one of the voices leading opposition to the pipeline expansion.

For Gabriel, the environmental impacts are a major issue, but so are the rights of First Nation鈥檚 people.

鈥淭here was no actual consent given for the first pipeline,鈥� Gabriel said. In the 鈥�50s, Indian agents acted on behalf of the band, without consultation.

There鈥檚 no direct benefit to the local community in the form of jobs or resource sharing, Gabriel said.

鈥淭his whole idea of consent is at the core of our concern,鈥� he said.

The provincial election will likely become one area in which people raise the issue, Gabriel said.

Davidson has an answer for people who say we need oil.

鈥淣obody is advocating turning the tap off on the existing pipelines,鈥� she said. The domestic supply of oil is already enough, she said. 鈥淭his expansion is all about exporting crude.鈥�

Candidates are very likely to hear from pipeline opponents.

鈥淲e鈥檙e going to make sure they know what we think is important, and this is at the top of our list,鈥� said Gabriel.

The anti-pipeline groups are also hoping to do a lot of outreach, making more people in the community aware of the issue and trying to bring them onto their side.

In early January, the Trans Mountain expansion received its environmental certificate from the Environment Assessment Office of B.C. It had also been given the federal stamp of approval, unlike the also-controversial Northern Gateway pipeline.

If it meets all its approvals and conditions and is built, the pipeline will split into two routes in 91原创, just west of Fort 91原创.

The existing pipeline will still go through Walnut Grove, which was sparsely populated farmland when it was first built in 1953. The new route will head north and then veer west again to get around the densely populated neighbourhood.

Opponents of the project have been picketing and protesting since 2012 in the 91原创s, including in two major marches through Fort 91原创. The latest took place this past winter.

Kinder Morgan has argued that the project will bring financial benefits to B.C. and Alberta, and Canada more broadly.

As part of its negotiated commitment with the province of British Columbia, it agreed to contribute a minimum of $25 million, up to $50 million depending on oil shipment volumes over the lifetime of the project. The money is to go towards a B.C. Clean Communities Program for local environmental projects.