Order of Canada members from B.C. sign letter calling for Trans Mountain project to be abandoned

Dozens of Order of Canada members from British Columbia are urging the federal government to cancel the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Bonnie Sherr Klein, Dorothy Grant, Gabor Mate and Raffi Cavoukian are among 42 members who signed a letter asking the federal government to use the Federal Court of Appeal’s ruling as an opportunity to rethink the project.

In the letter, the signatories say they are concerned about the deep divisions that have been created by how the “economy vs. climate” debate is framed.

READ MORE: Alberta NDP takes out pro-pipeline ads in newspapers across Canada

They say they want to see investment in clean energy and a diversified economy as rapidly as possible, and retraining for those who would suffer immediate job loss.

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In a recent decision overturning approval for the pipeline expansion, the court said the federal government failed to meaningfully consult First Nations and to consider the impacts of tanker traffic on marine life in its approval process.

READ MORE: Trudeau considers appealing court’s decision to quash Trans Mountain pipeline

Watch below: Some videos from Global News’ ongoing coverage of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

4:50 Trudeau: ‘Need to do a better job of partnering with indigenous community’ on Trans Mountain

• Trudeau: ‘Need to do a better job of partnering with indigenous community’ on Trans Mountain
• Activists rally over Trans Mountain pipeline ruling
• Notley says following the current regulatory path for Trans Mountain will lead to too much delay
• B.C. Green Party leader praises ‘important’ Trans Mountain court ruling
• Rachel Notley says she is giving federal government time to get Trans Mountain problem fixed
• Trudeau talks Trans Mountain during visit to Edmonton
• Trudeau talks Trans Mountain with Alberta’s Notley
• Alberta political analyst weighs in on Trans Mountain
• ‘I understand their frustration,’ Trudeau says of Albertans after Trans Mountain pipeline ruling
• Trudeau wants to see shovels in the ground ‘as quickly as possible’ on Trans Mountain pipeline expansion
• ‘We are looking at all options’ on Trans Mountain, says Trudeau
• Trudeau maintains Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is not dead
• Trans Mountain to be discussed at Trudeau Notley meeting in Edmonton
• Jagmeet Singh calls on Trudeau to end Trans Mountain pipeline expansion plans
• Conservatives call on Trudeau to put forward ‘concrete’ plan to fix Trans Mountain
• Court’s decision on Trans Mountain pipeline leaves workers in limbo
• Next steps for both sides of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion debate
• What will the Trans Mountain decision mean for B.C. workers?
• Premier Notley does 1-on-1 interview with Global News after latest Trans Mountain pipeline setback
• Court ruling on Trans Mountain project raises new questions about pipelines and politics

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Ottawa purchased the pipeline for $4.5 billion and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government is considering options to get the project restarted.

In place of the pipeline expansion, the Order of Canada members say in the letter released Thursday that the country needs to develop a comprehensive energy transition plan that is commensurate with the crisis of climate change.

“As members of the Order of Canada, whose motto is ‘They Desire a Better Country,’ we believe it is our role as citizens to speak out about our government’s purchase and building of the Trans Mountain pipeline,” the letter says.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "As members of the Order of Canada, whose motto is 'They Desire a Better Country,' we believe it is our role as citizens to speak out about our government's purchase and building of the Trans Mountain pipeline," the letter says.

“We call on the government to create an energy transition plan that respects First Nations land, resources and economic development issues, honours Canada’s commitments to the Paris Accord and includes opportunities for dialogue among Canadians to reduce divisiveness and create a future that is sustainable for all.”