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Canadian government approves Northern Gateway pipeline construction

The Northern Gateway pipeline would travel through pristine B.C. wilderness, crossing two major mountain ranges and ending at Kitimat. Opposition to the project in B.C. is high

The Government of Canada has announced it will support the construction of the Enbridge Northern Gateway pipeline, a massive energy project that crosses provincial borders and has been opposed by First Nations communities, environmentalists and British Columbia.

In an afternoon announcement, Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford announced the federal government's support for the project, which is dependent on Enbridge adhering to 209 conditions previously levied against the project by a joint review board.

"After carefully reviewing the report, the Government accepts the independent Panel's recommendation to impose 209 conditions on Northern Gateway Pipeline's proposal," Rickford said in a statement.

"Today constitutes another step in the process. Moving forward, the proponent must demonstrate to the independent regulator, the NEB, how it will meet the 209 conditions."

Securing the government's approval is the latest hurdle in the years-long battle to build a massive 1,172-kilometre pipeline from Alberta's oilsands, beginning just north of Edmonton, west to the coast of British Columbia.

Enbridge originally submitted its application to the National Energy Board in May 2010. In December, a study by the Joint Review Panel determined the pipeline was in Canada's best interests, pending Enbridge's acceptance of 209 conditions. Enbridge has said it is working its way through those conditions.

Enbridge's Northern Gateway project would make it easier to ship Canada's dense bitumen oil to overseas markets, specifically in Asia. The $7 billion project would be capable of shipping 500,000 barrels of oil per day.

Government estimates suggest the project could be worth as much as $300 billion to the Canadian economy over the next 30 years. Enbridge says that 99 per cent of Canada's oil export goes to the United States, where it is sold at discounted prices. The company said the project would open up markets in the Pacific Rim to Canadian bitumen and be an economic boon for all provinces.

But the project has been opposed by everyone from environmental groups for the negative impact the pipeline will have on the region, to First Nations leaders who are concerned about the impact the project would have on nearby aboriginal communities and the land, which includes the Great Bear Rainforest.

One of the biggest hurdles, however, may be the political fallout from approving the project. British Columbia vocally opposed the project, with a recent survey finding two-thirds of the province wanted it cancelled or delayed. The city of Kitimat, where the pipeline would reach the coast, officially opposed the project in a plebiscite earlier this year.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark also stood against the project, claiming the current proposal neither provides enough environmental protection nor gives British Columbia enough incentive to participate in the project.

At least one opponent believes the Northern Gateway project will never see the light of day. Ben West, campaign director for Forest Ethics Advocacy, says in a blog post that regardless of Harper's approval, there are more obstacles in the way.

First Nations will undoubtedly take the project to court and if need be, tens of thousands of British Columbians have pledged to stand with them and take direct action to stop this pipeline. Hopefully it won't have to come to that. B.C. Premier Christy Clark could still stand strong and help stop the Enbridge pipeline. A campaign has been organized asking her to follow through on B.C.'s rejection of the pipeline during the National Energy Board's Joint review panel process.

Ultimately, if after everything, Enbridge still tries to ram their pipeline through B.C., it may make Clayoquot Sound look like a walk in the park.

Yahoo Canada's political blogger Andy Radia suggested earlier this week that the Northern Gateway decision could be a "game-changer" for the federal Conservative government, which is faced to weigh the 21 B.C. ridings it currently holds against the fate of a project it has long supported.

"The Harper government's best course of action - politically at least - might be to somehow slow down the project by forcing Enbridge to meet some more 'conditions'," Radia writes.

"Politically, economically and environmentally: this could be one of Stephen Harper's most important career decisions as prime minister."

It is highly doubtful this is the end of the battle over the Northern Gateway project. With so many groups and agencies stacked up in opposition, the path forward will not be smooth.