I don’t think it should be approved, and will oppose it if it is, but I suspect it will be approved conditional on some condition that can easily be met… thereby insulating the review board to some extent from a bad decision.

The big challenge will be the Supreme Court of Canada and its recognition of Native rights. I don’t see how Harper can control a change of constitutional law. That should keep it tied up in the court until it finally dies as a viable project for its proponents.

I don’t think anyone will be surprised when we hear it has been approved…

like it or not, money doesn’t talk it SCREAMS….and Enbrigdge SCREAMS pretty loud.

And I too think there will be a lot of resistance by people to this endeavour.

I think all these meetings and consultations have been a total smoke screen

It will be approved with some conditions which were not part of the initial scheme. It will be interesting to see how the objections of the First Nations will be overcome, but since money screams and the whole project is about oodles of money there may be a lot of screaming to eventually silence those voices.

Of course the NEB will approve it, but with like 600 strings attached. And the best part will be the opportunities available for native people out west with a current unemployment rate of 40% (even after the chiefs take their cut)

I am in full support of the Gateway pipeline which on this site I am apparently in the minority on this issue. Reguardless of what people may want here there is a high demand for fossil fuels in Asia and to a lesser degree Europe and we are ideally positioned to supply that need we can’t rely on the Yankees to buy our oil forever this is a good business move in my opinion.

This shouldn’t be approved because a spill or two will totally kill the coast. Try googling the nuclear waste from fukushima on what it is doing to the animals and the pacific ocean.

Should be interesting.

Good post Dearth, and we will see what happens.

I’m 90% sure this will go ahead as we owe China.
This will make a few people happy for wealth and make a whole lot more upset for setting up the environmentally disaster. Crispy Crunch will be rubbing here hands waiting for the tax revenue.

IN CANADA:
1) Should not be allowed to own anymore than 25% foreign of nation resources.
2) 5% of all profit from fossil fuels should go back into R&D for green resources.
3) Any green solutions sold, be it Wind mills,solar panels or electric car should be tax free.

I am in full opposition of the Gateway pipeline which on this site I am apparently in the majority on this issue. Reguardless of what people may want here there is a high demand for fossil fuels in Asia and to a lesser degree Europe and we are ideally positioned to supply that need we can’t rely on the Yankees to buy our gas forever this is a good business move in my opinion.

That is why we need to torpedo Northern Gateway, and keep pushing for LNG.

Ya, like the feds haven’t already made up their minds. It will be good to see harpers true stripes when this goes to court and all of Canada will see how cozy in bed he is with big oil. It will cost him his political career, so at least that part of the Enbridge fiasco will have a positive affect.

I want to see this approved for one and only one reason. I want to see the First Nations take it to the Supreme Court of Canada so that a decision can once more be made on what “consultation” means.

That ought to hold it up long enough for other players to come into the forefront and, at best, send the oil from the sands of Alberta to Canadian refineries, whether existing or new, or, at worst, to USA refineries.

Every Country in the world has to take some responsibility and some risks when it comes to importing and exporting oil. The world runs on oil. There are thousands of miles of pipelines under the Gulf of Mexico, as an example.

We can try and opt out of exporting oil from BC however, it will either go South on the Keystone (which will be approved) to refineries in texas, for a cheaper price, or it will stay in the ground.

Without the export of oil and gas at this point in time, Canada could very well face a recession, so it is certainly in the public interest to build this pipeline.

Opposition to the pipeline is primarily in BC. The rest of the Country is either in favour of it, or doesn’t care.

I believe that the pipeline will be approved, and opposition from the first nations will be dealt with, and this will be a non-issue within two years.

Kinder Morgan pipeline 6 decades. Tankers been running down south same length of time. Tankers never stopped out of Alaska. Freighters have been running Douglas channel for decades.

Arguments against the pipeline, weak.

“It will cost him (Harper) his political career, so at least that part of the Enbridge fiasco will have a positive affect.”

There is a lot of noise in the media that he is already grooming his successor and that may indicate that he might not be around for the next election. If one quits one can not be *fired* by the voters. If this is the case he has done some heavy duty planning, as always.

Perhaps those opposed should do something other than rant to their like minded friends. They should park their fossil fuel transports, move out of their fossil fuel heated homes, stop wearing warm clothing that contains by-products of fossil fuels. By the way, huddle up to keep warm because if you light a fire you will be contributing to global warming.

Every human or animal activity is conducted by a risk vs reward consideration. So far we have heard lots about “potential” risks without much to support those views except rhetoric.

Interesting to see the ‘power of money’ wields over certain minds, who seem to never question whether or not it accurately ‘reflects’, as it’s supposed to be able to do, physical reality.

I couldn’t care less if the pipeline is built or not.

I don’t believe for one moment that it will bring on all the environmental catastrophes that are constantly paraded before us as reasons to oppose it. Or necessarily any of them.

But what it will bring on is a renewed ‘inflation’ of all prices here in BC. That inflation will come first, as it always does, under the guise of ‘prosperity’. But it shortly will reveal itself, again, for what it really is.

You’d think that by now those who’d govern us would be able to recognise the differences. And move to enable any good that comes from this project to be able to offset the bad that will certainly come from the rise in the costs of everything we’ll all have to bear to go on living here.

seamut wrote: “Tankers been running down south same length of time. …. Freighters have been running Douglas channel for decades.”

Tankers are not super tankers. For instance, there are about 4 refineries along the north coast of Washington state with unrefined oil being delivered by pipelines from the US as well as Canada, oil delivered by tankers, and now oil delivered by expanded rail access.

Much refined oil is transported out by tankers.

Super tankers are banned from the coastal waters past Port Angeles. The waters in those areas are not as dangerous as the waters along the Kitimat/Rupert coastal areas. Yet, I understand they are looking at supertankers entering those waters.

Tankers are not all the same. Washington State has the right mindset and the proper concern for its coastal waters. Seems we may not have.

I do not know whether the hearings include that aspect of the proposed oil route, or whether they are limited to the land portion. I know some of the evidence dealt with the sea route, but do not know how much weight is being put on that part of the proposal.

Every Government in Canada has been in bed with Big Oil, or Big business.

Politicians can do basically what ever the hell they want in this Country, because when it comes to politics, or being involved in running the Country, Canadians are a bunch of whining do nothings.

If I was Harper I would have bailed out a few years ago. Who the hell wants to represent a bunch of also rans.

“Perhaps those opposed should do something other than rant to their like minded friends. They should park their fossil fuel transports, move out of their fossil fuel heated homes, stop wearing warm clothing that contains by-products of fossil fuels. By the way, huddle up to keep warm because if you light a fire you will be contributing to global warming”

Oh for crying out loud, people can be opposed to a SPECIFIC PROJECT without being opposed to an entire industry or to our modern way of life. It’s called analyzing a specific situation, recognizing that things aren’t always simple and using your brain to formulate a conclusion after considering the pros and cons of a complex scenario.

I guess you didn’t thunk of dat?

Palopu wrote: “Every Government in Canada has been in bed with Big Oil, or Big business.”

Why would they be in bed with Mr. G’s in PG?

The Canadian Government does what it does to assist big business because they are the Canadian Government dealing with national and international trade and commerce.

For the same reason, Provincial Governments deal more with provincial sized businesses, some of which operate on a national and international scale, such as Canfor.

And, for the same reason City Governments deal with local businesses through their economic development roles.

It is the way it works

You got a better system, let’s hear it.

“Opposition to the pipeline is primarily in BC. The rest of the Country is either in favour of it, or doesn’t care.”

===================================

You missed the third and most likely consideration Palopu and that is that the rest of the country simply doesn’t know about it.

I would hazard a guess that 95% of the people out here couldn’t tell you a thing about the Skeena River, the Coast Mountains or the Douglas Channel. It’s no different than how 95% of the people in BC couldn’t tell you a thing about the Ottawa River, the Laurentian Mountains or Georgian Bay.

As much as I love how big and diverse Canada is, it also makes it challenging to have useful discussions that are of national significance as people tend to speak from their position of familiarity. I think this whole country would benefit if we truly understood each other better.

NMG: “Oh for crying out loud, people can be opposed to a SPECIFIC PROJECT “

Some people are opposed to everything, because they either don’t understand something (and have no desire to), or they just don’t like change. I think that’s what ‘thunk’ was trying to get across.

There will be BLOOD in the Forests……mark my words…I do not want those crackhead pipelines here….

“Every human or animal activity is conducted by a risk vs reward consideration. So far we have heard lots about “potential” risks without much to support those views except rhetoric. ” Well when something hasn’t been built yet there can ONLY be potential risks don’t you think? As for not having something to support those views I believe there has been a lot of examples posted over the past couple of years or so (also news stories) about spills, ruptures, etc and quite a few of them involve Enbridge pipelines. Not to mention the blatant disregard for the law in Michigan which they were repeatedly warned about until they finally had the disaster that was predicted for 5 years. The EPAs scathing review of Enbridge should be enough to make anyone take a second look at them building anything in their backyards.

“Perhaps those opposed should do something other than rant to their like minded friends. They should park their fossil fuel transports, move out of their fossil fuel heated homes, stop wearing warm clothing that contains by-products of fossil fuels. By the way, huddle up to keep warm because if you light a fire you will be contributing to global warming.”
Oh yes, the proverbial “”if you oppose this pipeline you should move back into caves and freeze and starve” argument. Lame as always and also very narrow minded to assume anyone opposed to this particular pipeline must be opposed to all forms of industry and progress.

“Some people are opposed to everything, because they either don’t understand something (and have no desire to), or they just don’t like change. I think that’s what ‘thunk’ was trying to get across” Again with the condescending attitude towards anyone who is against what you are clearly not against. People can have opposing views, but just because they don’t agree with yours does not make them idiots, paranoid or delusional. Time to get off your pedestal and realize that those same people may just have a valid concern because it could cause very adverse effects to their way of life if this pipeline goes through.

Aren’t these interesting numbers:

■$1.2 billion – the amount of tax revenue promised to B.C. over the next 30 years.

■$2.4 billion – the lower estimate of the economic cost of a major tanker spill on the West Coast

■$9.5 billion – the highest estimate of the economic cost of a major tanker spill on the West Coast

Now why would anyone be opposed to this project with such positive numbers? Imagine, ALL the money BC would expect to receive from this can be lost twice over with just one spill on the coast. Scary.

Huh: “Time to get off your pedestal and realize that those same people may just have a valid concern because it could cause very adverse effects to their way of life if this pipeline goes through.”

Instead of stamping your feet, hands over your eyes and ears shouting ‘no’, how about trying to figure out a way to get this done which will satisfy reasonable concerns to get the pipeline built to the highest standard possible? There is nothing in life without some risk. Or is it just easier to say ‘no’? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

except for he fact that very little of the profits will land directly into my (our) pockets or even into our collective pockets.

There’s plenty of benefits for those who aren’t of the mindset that they should just be able to sit at home and collect a cheque.

Regardless, the decision will come out no matter what we say in the comment section. Some people take these comments and people’s opinions (when they differ from their own) a little too seriously.

[quote]Some people take these comments and people’s opinions (when they differ from their own) a little too seriously.[/quote]

To some people words are weapons of war –anonymous

I am of the opinion that it doesn’t matter what the Joint Review Panel’s recommendations are, if it is against thee proposed pipeline being built, Harper will just overrule the JRP’s recommendations anyway because it would be in the best economic interests of Canada.

This pipeline will be approved, and there will be the proof of how much of a sham the JRP review is. An example would be them not allowing a recently completed DFO report on humpback whales to be considered, because the public consultation (input) phase was finished… yet they will allow recent changes / promises made to meet BC’s 5 conditions after the same input phase has been completed.

The deck is stacked in favour of Big Oil & Gas because they run the Ottawa show!!!

So what is the difference between a tanker and a supertanker?

Someone always brings up the evils of big oil how about the scam of big green

Another cycle of the Climate Change Scare Machine is laid bare. David Rose explains how those lobbying and advising the government on green policies are benefiting from green projects. It’s all in the Daily Mail. The Green Industrial Complex has simply bought everyone off, and, cleverly, done it with your money.

http://joannenova.com.au/2013/12/climate-fat-cats-exposed-with-naked-conflicts-of-interest-where-was-the-bbc/

As for those thinking the EPA is the greatest thing since sliced bread, While this is a massive fraud of salary and benefits, one has to wonder what sort of fraud this man may have perpetrated in his role as a climate official. According to the story,http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/12/16/massive-fraud-at-the-epa-from-agencys-top-paid-climate-official/

Any body what to know where big green gets much of their money, hypocrites, Read Jimbos comments.

http://wattsupwiththat.com/2013/11/10/cei-wins-foia-tiff-with-nasa-via-judicial-order/#comment-1471361

I too suspect it will be approved with conditions because Harper’s gov’t has claimed time and time again that Canada needs the Northern Gateway pipeline to boost the Canadian economy…despite the fact the majority of folks who presented before the JRP are opposed, the majority of people who participated in Enbridge pipeline surveys are opposed, the majority of letters of interest submitted to the panel state opposition and for many reasons, along with most First Nations, local governments and families who actually live along the proposed pipeline route…..who knows maybe the JRP will surprise us and reject the proposal but I’m not holding my breath on this.