It seems locals will have to wait a little longer to hear council's opinion on the proposed

The topic was again brought up for discussion during last weeks meeting by Coun. Quentin Beach after Mayor Luke Strimbold suggested holding a second committee of the whole meeting to discuss the project, in June.

Councillor Beach said he had recently been in contact with and asked him why Smithers council chose to bring forth a resolution announcing that they do not support the pipeline project, rather than wait for the joint review panel process to play out.

Smithers council joined Terrace, Prince Rupert and the Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District in publicly announcing their opposition to the proposed project.

"Mayor Bachrach said Smithers council felt it was important to state their opposition to the project now, because many communities in Alberta already have come out saying they support the project, so he said he felt it is important to have their opinion be heard too," Beach said.

"We have milked this [issue] for a long time as a council and I support us making a decision one way or another .... we have already had a committee of the whole meeting," Coun. Beach added.

As reported in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂 edition of Nov. 16, 2011, a committee of the whole meeting was held in council chambers on Nov. 8, 2011, however that meeting did not result in any decision about the project.

During the November 2011 committee of the whole meeting, Coun. Beach said he was opposed to the proposed pipeline.

So far, the three other councillors and Mayor Strimbold have chosen to remain tight lipped on their opinions about the project.

"There is a process in place, which is the joint review panel. They are making sure that all of the information is gathered before making their decision and I think we should make a decision based on that information," Mayor Strimbold said, adding that he fully supports the joint review panel process.

"Smithers council have made their decision based on the information that has been collected to date. If we make a motion [decision] now, we could always make another motion later on if it turns out that oil is good for the environment," Coun. Beach said.

Council also discussed a letter from the Office of the Wet'suwet'en which urged the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake to follow the lead of the municipalities that have taken a stand against the pipeline project.

Mayor Strimbold said he would like to invite all six First Nations to meet with council to hear their opinions, before council make their decision.

Councillor Susan Schienbein agreed.

"I want to understand what the position is of the six First Nations so that we can use this information when we make our decision," she said.

A second committee of the whole meeting is scheduled for June 12, 2012.