Why are we even wasting the time with these pipeline projects?
Northern Gateway Pipeline halted
In a move overturning a 2014 decision, the Federal Court of Appeal shot down the progress of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline.
The June 30 decision cited inadequate consultation with First Nations groups, whose land would host the pipeline in British Columbia, as well as the former Conservative government rushing the process in order to approve the build.
As a result of the decision, the project now returns to the House of Commons, where it will be decided whether further public consultation — including engagement with First Nations — will be mandated as a condition for approval, or whether the project gets axed altogether.
In its decision on Northern Gateway — a proposed pipeline that would ship around 525,000 barrels of crude oil out of the Industrial Heartland, starting in Bruderheim, to Kitimat, B. C., the Federal Court of Appeal noted a rushed consultation process under the Conservatives.
When they did announce approval of the project in 2014, it came with 209 conditions, including community consultations and environmental assessment, but the appeals court ruled that fell short of what’s necessary to move forward. “We conclude that Canada offered only a brief, hurried and inadequate opportunity in Phase 4 — a critical part of Canada’s consultation framework — to exchange and discuss information and to dialogue,” the decision reads. “The inadequacies — more than just a handful and more than mere imperfections — left entire subjects of central interest to the affected First Nations, sometimes subjects affecting their subsistence and well-being, entirely ignored.”
Northern Gateway president John Carruthers said the company is still “fully committed” to the pipeline.
Neil Shelly, executive director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, said local industry wouldn’t be impacted as much as other regions of the province, as many Industrial Heartland-based companies focus more on product transportation, as well as refining and upgrading.
“It’s not as big an issue as it would be for, say, the producing companies in the Wood Buffalo-Fort McMurray region,” he explained.
Shelly did, however, note the delay of the pipeline could result in certain setbacks for the region, as well as for the economy and environment.
“I think longer term, strategically for Alberta and the country, we’re going to have to develop export pipeline systems,” Shelly said. “It’s just the safest and most cost-effective way to move our oil products.”
He went on to say that regardless of the decision, he hopes it is made with Canada’s best interest in mind.
“It’s yet to be seen exactly how they’re going to play this out,” Shelly said. “We’re just hoping that any ruling they put together is based on science and logic, not on rhetoric and reactionary views such as “no oil through pipelines.”
“It may take some time, but hopefully the rest of the country and other countries will realize the importance of the resource in Alberta,” he concluded.
Northern Gateway Pipeline halted | Sherwood Park News
Northern Gateway Pipeline halted
In a move overturning a 2014 decision, the Federal Court of Appeal shot down the progress of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline.
The June 30 decision cited inadequate consultation with First Nations groups, whose land would host the pipeline in British Columbia, as well as the former Conservative government rushing the process in order to approve the build.
As a result of the decision, the project now returns to the House of Commons, where it will be decided whether further public consultation — including engagement with First Nations — will be mandated as a condition for approval, or whether the project gets axed altogether.
In its decision on Northern Gateway — a proposed pipeline that would ship around 525,000 barrels of crude oil out of the Industrial Heartland, starting in Bruderheim, to Kitimat, B. C., the Federal Court of Appeal noted a rushed consultation process under the Conservatives.
When they did announce approval of the project in 2014, it came with 209 conditions, including community consultations and environmental assessment, but the appeals court ruled that fell short of what’s necessary to move forward. “We conclude that Canada offered only a brief, hurried and inadequate opportunity in Phase 4 — a critical part of Canada’s consultation framework — to exchange and discuss information and to dialogue,” the decision reads. “The inadequacies — more than just a handful and more than mere imperfections — left entire subjects of central interest to the affected First Nations, sometimes subjects affecting their subsistence and well-being, entirely ignored.”
Northern Gateway president John Carruthers said the company is still “fully committed” to the pipeline.
Neil Shelly, executive director of Alberta’s Industrial Heartland Association, said local industry wouldn’t be impacted as much as other regions of the province, as many Industrial Heartland-based companies focus more on product transportation, as well as refining and upgrading.
“It’s not as big an issue as it would be for, say, the producing companies in the Wood Buffalo-Fort McMurray region,” he explained.
Shelly did, however, note the delay of the pipeline could result in certain setbacks for the region, as well as for the economy and environment.
“I think longer term, strategically for Alberta and the country, we’re going to have to develop export pipeline systems,” Shelly said. “It’s just the safest and most cost-effective way to move our oil products.”
He went on to say that regardless of the decision, he hopes it is made with Canada’s best interest in mind.
“It’s yet to be seen exactly how they’re going to play this out,” Shelly said. “We’re just hoping that any ruling they put together is based on science and logic, not on rhetoric and reactionary views such as “no oil through pipelines.”
“It may take some time, but hopefully the rest of the country and other countries will realize the importance of the resource in Alberta,” he concluded.
Northern Gateway Pipeline halted | Sherwood Park News
