Oliver hints at approval for Northern Gateway pipeline – Vancouver Sun
With a federal government decision on the Northern Gateway oilsands pipeline imminent, Finance Minister Joe Oliver said on Monday that diversifying Canada’s energy markets is an “obvious strategic imperative” for the country and critical for the national economy.
His comments, coupled with those last week from Prime Minister Stephen Harper, suggested the government was set to approve the $6.5-billion Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, which would ship diluted bitumen from northern Alberta to the deepwater port of Kitimat, B.C., along the west coast.
The National Energy Board joint review panel that examined Northern Gateway green-lighted the project last December, subject to 209 conditions. The NEB panel recommended the federal government approve the pipeline.
The federal cabinet was required to decide by Tuesday whether to approve it, reject it or possibly delay a decision on the controversial pipeline, which is opposed by some of B.C.’s largest aboriginal groups, and by the federal NDP and Liberals.
