So today our government finally clarified their stance on the Northern Gateway project, after a lot of silence on the issue.
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2012/07/23/pol-bc-pipeline-clark-gateway.html
Conditions for approval
Lake laid out the five new requirements all new crude oil pipelines will have to meet before they get provincial approval:Completing the environmental review process. In the case of Enbridge, that would mean a recommendation by the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel that the project proceed.
Deploying world-leading marine oil-spill response, prevention and recovery systems for B.C.'s coastline and ocean to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy oil pipelines and shipments.
Using world-leading practices for land oil-spill prevention, response and recovery systems to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy oil pipelines.
Addressing legal requirements regarding aboriginal and treaty rights, and ensuring First Nations provided with the opportunities, information and resources necessary to participate in and benefit from a heavy-oil project.
Ensuring British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of a proposed heavy oil project that reflects the level, degree and nature of the risk borne by the province, the environment and taxpayers.
The criteria will apply to the controversial Northern Gateway project and any other new pipeline in B.C., Lake said.
One huge issue that heard reference to (I believe in a report by the ex-ICBC CEO), is that the bonding/insurance that "Northern Gateway Corp." has access to, is nowhere near the estimated costs of a spill. That and the fact that it's a shell corporation for Enbridge, basically absolving them of any major risk.
What say ye, NSMB?
Bicycles!