In the wake of the Obama administration's year-long delay of the Keystone XL pipeline decision, Canadian officials today delayed their decision on yet another controversial tar sands pipeline. A decision on Enbridge's proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline was delayed today until late 2013, a year later than planned. The three-member panel said it “would anticipate releasing the environmental assessment report in the fall of 2013 and its final decision on the project around the end of 2013.”
The joint review panel of Environment Canada and the National Energy Board announced that it will take the additional year to review the widespread public concern over the proposed pipeline, which would cut through First Nations lands in order to shuttle the dirtiest oil on the planet, Alberta tar sands, to Asian export markets.
The delay is not a good sign for Enbridge or KinderMorgan, the two major tar sands pipeline interests hoping to enable the export of Alberta's climate-killing product overseas. As we learned last week, the oil industry will face a powerful adversary since BC’s First Nations pledged, as a united front, to halt construction and prevent the proposed pipelines from crossing their territory.
“Harper wants to force pipelines through BC, ignoring our rights are ignoring the majority of British Columbians. Well I have news for you Mr. Harper: You are never going to achieve your dream of pushing pipelines through our rivers and lands and putting oil tankers on the coast.”