Hearings on Enbridge Inc.'s (TSX:ENB) Northern Gateway pipeline return to B.C. this week as they enter the final – and critical – questioning stage.
The hearings by the Joint Review Panel start today in Prince George – the home base of Janet Holder, executive vice-president of Western Access for Enbridge.
"I look forward to the final hearings taking place in my hometown," Holder said in an Enbridge press release.
"As the project proponent, we intend to demonstrate to British Columbians and to all Canadians through the examination of the facts and science upon which this project application is based that there is a path forward that provides for prosperity while protecting the environment."
The Prince George hearings are scheduled to run from October 9 to 19 and October 29 to November 9. They then move to Prince Rupert, British Columbia in November and December.
The panel will hear arguments from Enbridge on the things like the impact of the pipeline on landowners. Other areas of concern include:
- environmental, social and economic impacts;
- routing, design and construction of the pipelines and marine terminal; and
- operations, safety, accident prevention and emergency response to oil spills.
While Premier Christy Clark made a show of drawing a line in the sand last week while in Alberta – stating five demands that the project must meet before it receives B.C.'s blessing – critics have criticized her decision not to formally participate in the joint review panel hearings.
The B.C. government is an intervener but not a full participant and, as such, can cross-examine Enbridge but can present no evidence of its own.
