New Democrats calling on environment minister to release Enbridge Northern Gateway Project technical report
VICTORIA – New Democrats are calling on the B.C. Liberals to release the 30-page technical report on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project that the environment minister admits has been sitting on his desk since early June.
New Democrat environment critic Rob Fleming said the Liberal government is going to great lengths to avoid taking a position on the Northern Gateway Project, even taking the time to draft a 100-page document opposing the release of the 30-page government technical report after the Coastal First Nations asked the Joint Review Panel to compel the government to release the report.
“Minister Lake referred to this 30-page technical report as proof that the government is on top of this file, so the opposition, First Nations and the public deserve to see exactly what it is the Liberals have been working on," said Fleming.
“This is one of the most serious issues facing the province today, but the Liberals' handling of the file is beginning to look like a comedy,” said Fleming. “The report might help the public understand what this government is thinking when it comes to the Enbridge project, but instead of simply releasing it, they are working overtime to keep it under wraps.”
Fleming said New Democrats have attempted to obtain the document through Freedom of Information, but the government won't even respond to the request until September.
“Christy Clark and the Liberals have been hiding from the public on the Enbridge pipeline since day one,” said Fleming. “They are the government of British Columbia, the province that assumes all of the risk and receives very little benefit. They need to say where they stand.”
Fleming added that the Liberals have failed to submit evidence and refused to be cross-examined at the hearings, pointing to a government submission to the panel saying the government “did not adduce evidence in this proceeding” as an admission that they missed out on the opportunity to participate in the process in any meaningful way from the beginning.
Adrian Dix and B.C.'s New Democrats made submissions at several panel hearings, and submitted a document to the panel clearly describing the reasons for opposing to the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project.
