Smithers council joins Enbridge opposition
In a surprising move, Smithers council voted to oppose Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline project on Feb. 28.
With Tuesday's vote, Smithers joins three other local governments that have recently passed motions opposing the project: Terrace, Prince Rupert, and the Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District.
Just over a month ago, Smithers council decided to postpone a vote on the matter until after the federally-appointed Joint Review Panel rendered its decision on Enbridge's proposal.
But when Councillor Phil Brienesse reintroduced a previously defeated motion on Tuesday, the vote came back 5-1 in favour.
One councillor was absent from the Tuesday meeting, which left Councillor Charlie Northrup "disappointed and surprised" that council would vote in such such an important issue.
"Council tabled [a motion] to wait until after the process had taken place," Northrup said. "All council was present, lots of emotion around this issue in the community on both sides so I just thought it would be appropriate to wait until all council was present to have the full discussion. And then it would be a full council vote."
More to come.