JRP Hears Emotional Pleas To Prevent Northern Gateway Pipeline
Critics of Enbridge's Northern Gateway Pipeline showed no signs of losing steam on day three of closing arguments to the Joint Review Panel in Terrace.
A slew of the project's opponents, most notably BC-based First Nations groups, called back familiar criticisms -- that the project's environmental assesment and community consultation practices were flawed, and that the Enbridge legal team down-played the environmental hazards of the project.
"The risks of this project cannot be ignored or downplayed because of economic considerations," explained Rosanna Kyle, who presented on behalf of the Gitxaala Nation. Kyle spent much of her presentation claiming that Enbridge misrepresented research in their application about the environment effects of a diluted bitumen spill and how easily it can be mitigated.
Gitga'at First Nation Hereditary Chief Cameron Hill echoed these sentiments, breaking down into tears at several instances of his presentation. Hill says even the initial stages of this project have damaged his community, and he fears the cultural and environmental damage that would occur should the pipeline go ahead.
"This has already impacted my life and all of the people of the Gitga'at Nation and a spill hasn't even happened," Hill said.
The Government of Alberta and the Government of Canada both staunchly defended the project, hailing the pipeline for connecting Canadian producers and refiners to new and exciting markets.
"This will provide clear economic benefits. Tight water access will provide Albertans and Canadians with full value for their non-renewable resources by providing access to significant and fast growing new markets outside those currently available," explained Ronald Kruhlak, legal council for the Government of Alberta.
At the end off day three, already half of presenters had made their final arguments to the Joint Review Panel with many speculating that this faze will wrap up by June 19. Still to come are presentations by Skeena/Bulkley Valley MP Nathan Cullen and several BC based First Nations groups.
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