SMITHERS, B.C. — The northwestern B.C. town of Smithers, B.C., has joined two cities and one regional district in rejecting the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
Councillors representing the Bulkley Valley community of nearly 6,000 voted Tuesday night to oppose plans by Enbridge Inc. (TSX-ENB) to pipe Alberta crude across northern B.C. to Kitimat for shipment by supertanker to Asia.
Smithers, Terrace, Prince Rupert and the Skeena-Queen Charlotte Regional District fear the potential of a devastating spill if the pipeline ruptures or supertankers run aground in the challenging waters of the north coast.
Prince Rupert council voted against the massive project on Monday night, following the lead set by Terrace two weeks earlier, and prompting Smithers councillor Phil Brienesse (brih-NESS’-ee) to re-introduce his motion of opposition after it was tabled month.
Brienesse says the Tuesday night outcome brings the north together, showing the region is united against Northern Gateway.
The Smithers vote comes as the Joint Review Panel considering the Northern Gateway Project holds a second day of hearings in the community of Old Massett on the northern tip of Haida Gwaii.