The Northern Gateway Pipeline

In one corner: many First Nations

and other citizens who worry about
a possible oil spill. In the other:
business people, the federal and
Alberta governments and those
who see an opportunity for
Canada. The issue? The Northern
Gateway project. Its causing a
fierce environmental showdown
thats not likely to end even though
the federal government has
recently approved it.
What Is The Northern Gateway
Project?
The Northern Gateway project is a
proposal by Canadian oil and gas
company Enbridge Inc. The
company wants to build two
parallel pipelines between
Bruderheim, Alberta and Kitimat,
B.C.
The pipelines, about 1,177
kilometres long, would be mainly
underground. One would bring
over 500,000 barrels of bitumen a
day from the oil sands to the West
Coast. The other would carry
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nearly 200,000 barrels per day of

natural-gas condensate in the
opposite direction.
The $7.9-billion project would also
involve building a new marine
terminal in Kitimat. About 220
supertankers would dock there
each year to take the oil across the
Pacific to markets in Asia.
Pipeline Benefits
The pipeline would make it easier
to sell Albertas oil to China and
other countries. Enbridge says that
would bring major economic
benefits to Canadians.
Northern Gateway would create
about 3,000 construction jobs in
B.C. and 560 long-term positions.
More than 1,000 other jobs are
also predicted. As well, it would
produce about $2.6 billion in
government revenues over 30
years.
Pipeline Opponents
Yet many people strongly oppose
the project. Some dont want it to
go ahead because theyre against
development of the oil sands in
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general. They say extracting

Albertas oil pollutes the air and
water. It also ruins habitats,
contributes to climate change and
threatens the health of surrounding
communities.
Others oppose the pipeline itself.
Northern Gateway would affect
more than 50 First Nations
territories. It would also snake
through hundreds of salmonbearing rivers and streams. Leaks
could permanently damage these
sensitive ecosystems.
Another issue? Tankers carrying
bitumen would have to move
through 185 kilometres of inner
coastal waters. A major oil spill
could badly harm the coast and
marine life.
Many First Nations and the federal
opposition parties are against the
pipeline. NDP leader Tom Mulcair
called it pure madness. Liberal
leader Justin Trudeau said the
pipeline would threaten B.C.s
coastal economy.
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Approval, With Conditions

In 2012, a three-person panel
began hearing presentations from
people on both sides of the debate.
The panel was appointed by the
federal government. Its job? To
decide if the project met federal
environmental safety regulations
and if going forward with it was in
the public interest.
In 2013, the panel recommended

approving the project, subject to

209 conditions. So in June, 2014,
Ottawa said Enbridge could go
ahead when all conditions are met,
including five set out by the B.C.
government in 2012. Most of the
conditions require Enbridge to take
more steps to protect the
environment, to consult with
British Columbians, and to earn
their trust.

Enbridge CEO Al Monaco said he

was excited to get started and was
confident that the government had
made the right decision. However,
he also acknowledged that his
company has some work to do
before it can begin construction.
If we cant prove our safety and
environmental protection, the
economic benefits wont matter,
he stated.

Pipeline Primer
Pipelines move raw fuel over thousands of kilometres to refineries near cities and towns. That fuel is
usually converted into heating oil, or gas for cars.
Canadas pipelines cover about 825,000 kilometres. Many originate in Western Canada where most of
the nations oil is.
Supporters say that pipelines are the safest and most environmentally-friendly way to transport crude,
yet they are not failproof. The National Energy Board (NEB) keeps track of reported oil spills. In
2004, it estimated large oil pipelines experience a spill every 16 years for every 1,000 kilometres of
length.

About The Oil Sands

Oil sand is a naturally occurring mixture of sand, clay, water and bitumen. It is found in several places
on Earth. However, Canadas deposits in northern Alberta and Saskatchewan are the worlds largest.
They cover over 140,000 square kilometres, and contain enough bitumen to produce up to 315 billion
barrels of oil. However, extracting bitumen from oil sand is difficult and costly. Thats because the
substance is heavy and viscous, like cold molasses.
Bitumen is removed in two ways. One is through surface mining. This involves levelling the forest and
draining the soil above a deposit, scooping out the oil sand with giant shovels, then stripping out the
bitumen. The second method is used on oil sands more than 75 metres beneath the surface. It involves
drilling wells into the sands, injecting steam to melt the oil, then pumping the oil to the surface.

bitumen: a black, thick form of oil

condensate: a toxic mix of substances produced by
condensation, used to dilute bitumen so it is easier to move
crude: oil that has not yet been refined
National Energy Board: an agency created in 1959 by the
federal government to oversee Canadas oil and gas industry
supertanker: a ship about the length of four football fields
that carries oil or other liquids

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viscous: thick and sticky; having a high resistance to flow

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Between The Lines

An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence. A plausible inference is supported by evidence in the
article and is consistent with known facts outside of the article.
What inferences can you draw from the fact that Enbridge wants to sell oil to China and other countries in
the Far East?

Just Talk About It

Consider the following: Of course Im afraid of an oil spill. Im afraid of a car accident, [too]. But do
I drive? Yes. (Kitimat resident Diane Dessureault)
a) What is your understanding of this quote?
b) Respond to this quote. Do you agree or disagree with the speakers position? Give reasons to support
your response.

On-Line
Go to www.news4youth.com and select the What in the World? tab to:
1. Find out more about the Northern Gateway pipeline (or visit http://www.gatewayfacts.ca/,
http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/pipeline-primer-what-you-need-to-know-about-northern-gateway1.1872482
and
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/northern-gateway-pipeline-benefits-vs-concerns-1.1135312).
2. Read about the oil sands on the Alberta governments oil sands website and the Energy Alberta website
(or visit http://www.oilsands.alberta.ca/ and http://www.energy.alberta.ca/OilSands/791.asp).
3. See a map of the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline (or visit http://unistotencamp.com/wpcontent/uploads/2009/03/energy_enbridge_pipeline_tanker_routes_yinkadene_feb2012.jpg).
4. View Tipping Barrels: Journey into the Great Bear a surfing documentary that explores the Great
Bear Rainforest and the potential for environmental devastation in the event of an oil spill (or visit
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nYoIwmnxnQc).
5. Find out what oil is used for (or visit http://www.rankenenergy.com/Products%20from%20Petroleum.htm).

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