Wilderness Committee: 'BC Environmental Assessment Powers Must Be Restored'

BC Government Must Take Back Its Power on Northern Gateway Review

by Wilderness Committee

VANCOUVER - The Wilderness Committee welcomes today's announcement that the BC government is not supporting the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline and tanker proposal, as presented in its submission to the Joint Review Panel reviewing the project. However, while the government has outlined the risks that British Columbians fear – a tar sands oil spill that threatens our coast, wildlife and communities – the province has not yet attempted to take back its right to an independent, made-in-BC environmental assessment.

"This announcement is positive news, and it clarifies that the government has been listening to British Columbians' concerns. Now they need to walk the walk and withdraw from the agreement that has taken away BC's ability to do our own assessment," said Eoin Madden, Climate Change Campaigner with the Wilderness Committee.

In 2010, the BC government signed an "Equivalency Agreement" with the federal government, which says that an environmental assessment of the Enbridge proposal carried out by the federal Joint Review Panel would constitute a provincial environmental assessment as well. It is important to note that the word "joint" refers to a joint review conducted not by federal and provincial governments, but by two federal bodies – the National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA).

The Joint Review Panel will give its official recommendation when the review is complete, but with the passing of last year's Bill C-38, the final decision on the project rests with the federal cabinet.

"It appears the BC government has taken our concerns about Northern Gateway to heart, but at this stage in the federal assessment process, it's not their decision to make," said Madden. "If the province is serious about protecting our coastline and ensuring a safe healthy climate, it would do what it has the power to do and pull out of its agreement with the federal government – so that it has the real ability to stand up for BC and say 'No' to this pipeline."

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For Immediate Release - May 31, 2013
For more information, contact:

Eoin Madden, Climate Change Campaigner, Wilderness Committee

The Wilderness Committee is Canada's largest membership-based, citizen-funded wilderness preservation organization. We work for the preservation of Canadian and international wilderness through research and grassroots education. The Wilderness Committee works on the ground to achieve ecologically sustainable communities.


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