Coastal Nations pull out of Northern Gateway JRP

The Coastal First Nations will not be participating in the Joint Review Panel on the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline in Prince Rupert citing financial restraints. “It seems the only party that can afford this long and extended hearing process is Enbridge and, perhaps, the federal government. The average citizen can’t afford to be here and the Coastal First Nations cannot afford to be here,” said Art Sterritt, the executive director of the Coastal First Nations. Sterrit said Coastal First Nations will continue to monitor the proceedings and will do what they can to participate given their limited resources. “We are profoundly disappointed with the nature of this process. Taken together these problems undermine the legitimacy and authenticity of the hearing process, our pursuit of the true facts and, ultimately, a just result.”