The legal sparring over whether or not the Northern Gateway pipeline project will go forth will last a while longer.
The 12-hundred-kilometre twin pipeline would transport diluted bitumen from Alberta’s oilsands to a terminal at Kitimat on British Columbia’s northern coast for overseas shipping. The eastbound pipeline would import condensed natural gas.
On Thursday, Vancouver’s Federal Court of Appeal was scheduled to hear the final day of arguments in a legal challenge against the project, leading observers to believe that a final decision might be at hand.
Instead, the court reserved its decision on whether to uphold or reject the federal government’s approval of the $7-billion project.
First Nations, environmental groups and a union want the approval overturned.
They say the pipeline review panel did not adequately consult with aboriginal groups or sufficiently consider the environmental impact of the pipeline before granting approval.
The company developing the project says a court decision to overturn the approval would stop the company from filing anything more with the National Energy Board and the company couldn’t continue.
Enbridge, Inc., says it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the project and a court decision not to uphold the approval would put a chill on large-scale infrastructure investment.
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