Enbridge鈥檚 Northern Gateway filed a request last week with the National Energy Board for a three-year extension to start building its pipeline project.
In a press release, Northern Gateway says this would allow time to receive legal and regulatory certainty and to continue discussions with First Nations and M茅tis communities. In particular, it says more time is required to advance dialogue with coastal communities in northwest British Columbia.
鈥淔rom the beginning, Northern Gateway should have done a better job of building relationships with First Nations and M茅tis communities, particularly on the west coast of British Columbia,鈥� said John Carruthers, President of Northern Gateway.
鈥淲hile we had the right intentions, we should have done a better job of listening and fostering these critical relationships and developing our plans together as true partners,鈥� he said.
Enbridge Inc. proposes the construction of a 1200-km twin pipeline that would carry diluted bitumen from Alberta鈥檚 oilsands to B.C.鈥檚 coast, passing directly through 亚洲天堂 Lake.
First Nations chiefs in the 亚洲天堂 Lake area 鈥� Wet鈥檚uwe鈥檛en First Nation Chief Karen Ogen, 亚洲天堂 Lake Band Chief Dan George and Lake Babine Nation Chief Wilf Adam - have repeatedly stated they are against the Northern Gateway Pipeline project.
In June 2014, the federal government approved the $7-billion project, but imposed 209 conditions recommended by the National Energy Board.
The B.C. Supreme Court ruled earlier this year that the province 鈥渂reached the honour of the Crown鈥� by failing to consult with First Nations on Enbridge鈥檚 Northern Gateway Pipeline project. According to the court ruling, Northern Gateway must face a provincial environmental assessment decision, which includes consultation with First Nations across the province.
In October 2015, eighteen lawsuits against Northern Gateway - launched by a collection of First Nations, environmental groups and a labour union - were presented in the federal court of appeal in Vancouver. The litigation hearing concluded Oct. 8, 2015, with judges reserving their decision on whether to sustain or quash the government鈥檚 approval of the project.
The federal Liberal government promised during the election last fall to ban crude oil tanker traffic off B.C.鈥檚 north coast.
While Trudeau has said he does not support crude oil pipelines through B.C.鈥檚 rainforest, reports that there may be wiggle room through exemptions on that promise had Skeena-Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen describing the government position as 鈥渃rab walking.鈥�
鈥淭o have something as so crystal clear as [Trudeau鈥檚] commitments on the north coast tanker ban, they鈥檙e starting to what they call in politics to do the crab walk,鈥� said Cullen. 鈥淭hey start in one position and you can鈥檛 really tell that they鈥檙e moving, but they start sliding on over and saying 鈥榳ell, it depends on how you define oil,鈥� and 鈥榳hat is a tanker anyways?鈥欌��
Cullen said the approval of the Northern Gateway project would be a betrayal.
- With files from Chris Gareau
