Kinder Morgan protest draws huge crowd in Vancouver

Thousands of protestersconverged on Vancouver to voice their opposition to a proposed expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline.

Shouting anti-pipeline slogans and waving placards, the protestersmade their way north from city hall across theCambieStreet Bridge.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson warned that Saturday's rallycould be a preview of more demonstrations to come.

"I think you will see protests on this one like you have never seen before," Robertson said in an interview onTheHousewith Chris Hall."I think it is perilous politically."

Green Party leader Elizabeth May, who joined the protest, voiced a similar warning.

"I want Justin Trudeau to do the right thing," May said.

"If [the government]approves the Kinder Morgan pipeline, they will see such hell-raising from British Columbia that they will feel it shake the foundation of Parliament," May said.

Saturday's rallywasorganized by agroup called Climate Convergence Metro Vancouver.

First Nations leaders, members of parliamentand environmental activists were among those calling for Trudeau to reject the proposed pipeline expansion.

Protesters heldplacards with signs that read: "No Consent, No Pipeline," and "Keep it in the ground." Some cars honked their horns in support.

The federal government has promised to deliver its decision on Kinder Morgan's $6.8-billion project, which would triple the capacity of the existing pipeline linking the Alberta oilsands with Vancouver Harbour,by Dec. 19.

"I certainly hope they are not inclined to say yes. This has to have a stringent review and it hasn't yet," said Robertson.

The Facebookpage for the event says the protest is "in solidarity with Indigenous water protectors at Standing Rock as they struggle to stop the Dakota Access Pipeline," which has been ongoing for months.

• Kinder Morgan braces for Standing Rock-type protests
• Standing Rock pipeline protest leader draws a crowd in Vancouver

With files from Tina Lovgreen and the Canadian Press