Gov’t applauds Gateway approval

REGINA — Economy Minister Bill Boyd says approval of the Enbridge Northern Gateway project is good for Saskatchewan — despite the fact that no oil from the province will be transported through the pipeline.

“We are very pleased today with the announcement that has been made with respect to this pipeline. We think it is certainly important. It will help address some of the concerns that Saskatchewan has about capacity,” Boyd told reporters at the Legislative Building in Regina on Tuesday.

“Even though there isn’t Saskatchewan oil going to be going through this pipeline, it will address issues around capacity that are important for getting oil to markets on an international scale.”

Boyd and Premier Brad Wall have repeatedly said differences between prices currently available for Saskatchewan oil and prices that might be accessed internationally mean millions less for the province.

“We think this can be done in an environmentally and socially responsible way. We understand the federal government has put 209 conditions in place that have to be met before this pipeline would go ahead. I suspect there may be attempts legally and otherwise to stop this, but we are very hopeful that this project will go forward,” Boyd said.

“WE THINK THIS CAN

BE DONE IN AN ENVIRONMENTALLY

AND SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE WAY.”

BILL BOYD

Boyd says he hopes for approval for TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline, too.

“I think it shows that sciencebased evidence should eventually move forward these types of projects, if they’re advancing it in a proper way. The pipeline down to the United States, Keystone, is again very important for Saskatchewan. It helps to create new markets for our products out of our oilpatch.”

University of Saskatchewan College of Law expert Dwight Newman said there is reason to think Northern Gateway will be built, even with 209 conditions.

“It obviously follows a very detailed consideration by the jointreview panel,” Newman said. “This is a more complex project than many and there are a lot of things at stake — Enbridge has a lot of work still to do.”

Some of that work will include further consultation with aboriginal peoples, Newman noted, adding the government made it clear that more work is needed in that area. Court challenges could also be a factor, he said.

“Enbridge has developed the proposal and presumably thinks it can meet the conditions that have been set, so in many ways, there’s lots of reason to think that it will go forward now,” Newman said.