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City of Prince Rupert to apply for intervenor status in Enbridge review

After hearing from Marty Bowles on behalf of the Prince Rupert Environmental Society, Prince Rupert City Council has agreed to apply to register as an intervenor for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project’s Joint Review Panel Process.
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After hearing from Marty Bowles on behalf of the Prince Rupert Environmental Society, Prince Rupert City Council has agreed to apply to register as an intervenor for the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project’s Joint Review Panel Process.

With its registration for the status, the council will state that a clean marine environment is important to the City’s economy.

“The reason that they want specific governments to participate, at any level of government, is because it allows them to decide where they’re going to have the hearings,” Bowles told council at its Committee Meeting of the Whole last week.

According to Bowles, at the open house the Joint Review Panel held in Prince Rupert in June, one of the points made was that if a municipal government is not going to vent anything, then it’s less likely that a hearing will be held in that centre.

As an intervenor, the City will be a full participant, a party to the process, and can intervene as a group. The deadline for registration is July 14.

“Anyone with intervenor status would have to travel elsewhere in order to participate,” Bowles said, adding he hoped as many people as possible will register to be intervenors.

“You don’t have to even stand up and speak. You can submit written presentations or send it in by email. There are lots of options,” he said.

Councillor Joy Thorkelson, who has applied for intervenor status on behalf of the United Fishermen and Allied Workers Union, made a motion that City Council also apply.

“This City Council has not taken a stand on whether we should have oil tankers or a pipeline, but surely we can speak with a unanimous voice that creating a clean marine environment is important to our economy,” she said.

Mayor Jack Mussallem responded that council has not participated, except in terms of information gathering, but has been waiting for the process to unfold before it says yes or no to the project.

“It’s really the best way to consider anything, whether you’re for or against it, to get all the information first. On the face of it, I don’t think too many people would argue that we should have a clean marine environment” the Mayor said.

Councillor Anna Ashley said she would vote in favour of gaining intervenor status because it could increase the possibility of a review hearing being held in Prince Rupert.

Opposing the motion were Councillors Kathy Bedard, Gina Garon and Gordon-Payne.

“I actually like that we’ve allowed our community to hear both sides of the issue respectfully and that we have remained respectful of both sides. But I think as soon as we start to say things like it’s important that we weigh a clean marine environment, it actually implies that one decision is right and one is wrong. I think we could be manipulated as a City if we go in and say we want intervenor status with a clean marine environment. It opens us up,” said Councillor Gordon-Payne.

Councillor Thorkelson said she wasn’t asking council to say it was for or against Enbridge, but to say if the project goes ahead, then whatever happens, Enbridge must guarantee as best as it can a clean marine environment.

“I’m not asking us to take a position, but communities like Kitimat and Vanderhoof are going to talk about the positive impacts of the project on their economies. I’m suggesting that, whether it goes ahead or not, the national energy board better be aware that our economy is dependent on a clean marine environment,” she explained.

While willingness to do so was only favoured by three council members, Mayor Jack Mussallem broke the tie, voting in favour of registering.

As an intervenor, the City will be a full participant, a party to the process and can intervene as a group.