OTTAWA -- Some West Coast Liberal MPs say they are as disappointed as some of their constituents with the government's decision to approve Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline -- and at least one expects to lose votes over it.
But they nonetheless tried to show solidarity with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as they gathered Wednesday for their weekly caucus meeting on Parliament Hill.
MP after MP from B.C. said they wanted to focus on the government's environmental promises to the region, instead of focusing on the decision itself.
John Wilkinson said he felt the government had responded thoroughly to the concerns of people in his North Vancouver riding.
"I work on the climate change file every day. I've dedicated the last 20 years of my life to professional work in the area of climate change," said Wilkinson, parliamentary secretary to the environment minister.
"There is nobody within the B.C. caucus that is more concerned about climate issues and environmental issues than I am, and I think we've addressed those concerns."
Liberal MP Joyce Murray said she was disappointed with the decision, but talked up the government's environmental promises, saying she sees "a huge amount of progress" on fighting climate change and protecting Canada's oceans.
Other B.C. MPs say they will talk to constituents in the coming days about the decision. Some, like Pam Goldsmith-Jones, say the decision is in the best interests of all Canadians.
Goldsmith-Jones says the decision shouldn't be seen as a betrayal of West Coast voters, including those in her southwest B.C. riding.
"This decision is going to be very, very difficult for many in my community," she said. "I know that they are disappointed, but they also know that I will not stop working on their behalf."
North-Seymour MP Terry Beech -- whose name and concerns Trudeau specifically mentioned in his news conference Tuesday -- says he will hold an open house this weekend for his constituents.
The pipeline would link Alberta to the southern B.C. coast around Vancouver, and is opposed by environmental groups, First Nations communities and local politicians, including Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson.
The decision could have political implications for Liberals in the province, many of whom were in tough battles in the last election. Beech won by 3,401 votes, a 6.5 per cent margin of victory. Joe Peschisolido won by a similar margin in his Richmond-area riding.
Hedy Fry, who represents the riding of Vancouver Centre, won by a comfortable 20,936 vote margin. She said she expects the pipeline decision to cost her votes in 2019.
"It is something that people in my riding feel strongly about, and it will cause me problems," she said. "That's why I'm going to start looking forward and working with constituents to see what are the things we can do."
Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi said the pipeline decision wasn't made based on politics. Sohi played down any tensions in caucus over the pipeline decision.
"We are a very strong team and we have diverse views, obviously, and we respect those views," said Sohi, who represents the Alberta riding of Edmonton Mill Woods.
The decision would help workers in resource-rich provinces like Alberta, he added.
"As a collective we work together, and we work together for the best interest of all Canadians, and this decision reflects that."
