Pipeline decision based ‘on the facts’
Harper says next move up to Enbridge
Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Conservative MPs offered a muted defence Wednesday of the government’s approval of the Northern Gateway pipeline, often deflecting environmental questions to pipeline company Enbridge and the federal regulator.
British Columbia Conservative MPs said while there is opposition to the project in B.C., they don’t believe it will hinder their re-election chances in 2015.
The federal government approved the project late Tuesday, subject to 209 conditions imposed by the National Energy Board joint review panel, which green-lighted the pipeline in December.
A written statement from Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford announced the conditional approval, but no minister spoke in defence of the project.
On Wednesday, Harper said the government based its decision on the findings of the NEB panel and that it’s now up to the pipeline “proponent” — he didn’t mention Enbridge by name — to meet the conditions.
“The government is acting on the advice of an independent, scientific panel that thoroughly reviewed these matters. The government has applied the conditions demanded by that panel.
“It is now up to the proponent to assure the regulator, going forward, that it will indeed comply with those conditions,” Harper said in the House of Commons.
“The government has to base its findings on the facts and on the hearings as they transpired.”
Harper has declared that infrastructure projects such as pipelines that can get Canadian resources to new customers are “in the vital interest” of B.C. and Canada.
In 2012, the government announced that it, not the NEB, would make the final decision on pipeline projects in the “national interest” — including the Northern Gateway.
The $6.5-billion pipeline would take diluted bitumen from northern Alberta to the deepwater port of Kitimat, B.C., for shipment by tanker to Asian markets.
NDP Leader Tom Mulcair said Wednesday that Harper and his cabinet have been “shilling” for the pipeline for three years, but now won’t stand up to strongly defend the need for it.
He quipped that Harper’s 21 B.C. MPs have suddenly “entered the witness protection program.”
Many B.C. Tory MPs were unwilling to speak Wednesday about the government’s decision.
Those who stopped to chat acknowledged the project faces opposition in their province. But they insist there’s also significant support for the pipeline.
“Yes, I am comfortable” with the decision,” said Minister of State John Duncan, MP for Vancouver Island North. “The government has followed the proper process and there’s much work left to do.
“There’s people on both sides of the issue.”
Mark Warawa, Conservative MP for Langley, said “there is some anger” in his riding about the approval, but added he is also getting letters of support for the decision.
“I don’t believe my chances of re-election will be hurt,” Warawa said.
Kootenay-Columbia MP David Wilks doesn’t believe the government’s approval will produce any significant political problems for B.C. Conservative MPs.
“I don’t think it’s going to be as big a deal as everyone thinks it is.”