Read this report from CTV.ca on BC Liberal Energy Minister Rich Coleman’s recent comments scolding Terrace city council for coming out officially in opposition to the proposed Enbridge Northern Gateway pipelines. (Feb 15, 2012)
Coleman said Wednesday he can’t tell municipal politicians what to do, but he prefers local politicians to follow the B.C. government and hold off on taking a stand on the controversial project until the completion of federal environmental review hearings in 2013.
“We’ve said all along, the premier’s said all along, we’re going to wait for that (joint review panel) process. I think some of these other jurisdictions should do the same,” he said.
Coleman said he believes it’s important to let the federal review process play itself out before deciding whether or not to support the Enbridge Inc., Northern Gateway project.
More than 60 B.C. First Nations and aboriginal organizations have signed a declaration opposing the plan to build a 1,177-kilometre twin pipeline from Alberta to the northwest B.C. port of Kitimat, where huge oil tankers will ship oil to Asia and the United States.
The Union of B.C. Municipalities also voted against the oil pipeline at their meeting last fall. Terrace announced its opposition at a council meeting earlier this week.
“You’ve got to wait until you hear it all,” said Coleman. “This is an important project for Canada, everybody knows that, and through this process there could be tweaks and changes that would actually allay people’s concerns that may be out there.”
Terrace councillors voted 5-2 Monday to oppose the pipeline, saying the project may be good for Ottawa and Alberta, but leaves Terrace, Kitimat and the surrounding communities with few benefits and most of the environmental risk.