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The federal government may delay a decision on the controversial Enbridge Northern Gateway, Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford said at an energy conference in New York. He said the Joint Review Panel’s report from December, which recommended approval with over 200 conditions, is still being considered.
“Obviously, this is an extensive report with 209 conditions, and the government obviously has the clear option of taking that on its face, or other options that would or could include delays,” Rickford said to reporters at the event, according to the Financial Post.
He added that the government was making “careful considerations” now and would respond to the report in the “not-too-distant future.” The government has until June 17 to announce a decision on the project.
The 1,177-kilometre pipeline would bring oil sands bitumen from Alberta to Kitimat, BC, for shipment to Asian and U.S. markets. It has been fiercely opposed by Northern BC residents and a coalition of over 130 First Nations.
“The fact that the Harper government is even considering a delay speaks volumes to how unpopular this project is,” said ForestEthics campaign director Ben West.
“No length of delay will ultimately get this project the social license it needs to proceed. Regardless what Harper decides First Nations and the people of BC have already rejected it and that isn’t about to change.”
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said on Monday that an approval of the project would “poison” relations between federal government and BC’s First Nations, the majority of whom have opposed the project.
“It’s going to completely undermine and damage what’s left of the relationship between First Nations and both the provincial and federal governments,” he said on Monday. He warned that saying yes to Northern Gateway could jeopardize other industrial projects in BC, including LNG.
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