Terrace B.C. – The  Joint Review Panel has wrapped up the final oral arguments on the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline project and will soon start it’s deliberations.

 

Although there had been a full two weeks set aside to hear oral arguments, and rebuttal, the oral arguments were completed last Thursday, and the responses to those arguments completed this morning.

 

“This now completes the final argument stage” said Chair  Sheila Leggett who turned the microphone over to her two panel members for final comment.

 

“To me its like going on a major shopping trip and you pick up all this stuff in your basket and at the end of the day you take it home and now you have to sort it  out." Panel Member Hans Matthews. He thanked everyone who took part  in the process and to those who have shared their knowledge.

 

Panel Member Kenneth Bateman also thanked the communities and participants , “After today I will deliberate with my colleagues all the evidence that is on the record” said Bateman "We will  do so with openess, objectivity and integrity.  Our objective and our committment is to make  a decision that is thorough  and complete and is in the public interest." 

 

Chair Sheila Leggett says the hearing process was a humbling experience, yet a time of  tremendous growth and said the time and effort  people have put into the proceedings “is staggering”.

 

“We have read and listened to all of the evidence that has been put forward” said Leggett who added  the Panel had gained insights that never would have been possible without the involvement of those who have taken part. The Panel will release it’s report on or before December 31^st.