Regardless of NEB Decision, Enbridge Will “Never be Completed”
Vancouver, December 18, 2013 — After years of discussion and debate, a dramatic announcement on the highly controversial Enbridge Northern Gateway Pipeline is imminent. On Thursday, December 19th at 1:30pm PST, the National Energy Board (NEB) will release their recommendations on whether the project should be permitted to go ahead.
“This is certainly a dramatic moment for so many of us on the west coast who badly want to see this project rejected, but regardless of the NEB decision, or even what the Harper government eventually says about it, we know that the Enbridge pipeline will never be completed,” said Ben West, Tar Sands Campaign Director at ForestEthics Advocacy.
After Thursday, the NEB recommendations will then go to the Federal Cabinet, who have the power to accept or overturn any decision made by the NEB.
“Stephen Harper might think he has the final say about these pipelines, but he is wrong. There are many thousands of us in BC who are part of a social movement that will continue to get bigger and stronger until this reckless pipeline project is stopped,” said West. “Ultimately I don’t think most Canadians will think kindly of a Prime Minister who clearly oversteps his authority and tries to force a dangerous project on an unwilling province,” said West.
The Government of BC, the Union of BC Municipalities and over 100 First Nations have all considered and then formally rejected Enbridge’s proposal. The pipeline has become a focus of international attention in the context of global action on climate change and the highly publicised campaign against the Keystone XL pipeline that would also carry Tar Sands oil.
“This has become about a lot more than just a single pipeline; saying no to Enbridge in BC has become symbolic of doing what is right on climate change, respecting First Nations people, and protecting the rights of communities to decide for themselves what is an acceptable risk,” said West.
“It seems to me that if the process is working the way it should, then the NEB and the Harper Government would reject this pipeline; but no matter what they decide it’s already a done deal. The politicians may issue the permits but the people give the permission — and the people of BC have clearly said ‘No’ to the Enbridge Gateway pipeline.”
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For more information contact:
Ben West, Tar Sands Campaign Director, ForestEthics Advocacy – (604) 710-5340
ForestEthics Advocacy’s new report, “Case Closed,” lays out why intervenors in the Joint Review Process — including environmental groups, First Nations and the BC government — all concluded that the JRP should reject the pipeline.