The threat of a trade war between Canada and the United States has put a long-dead pipeline project back in the political spotlight — with at least one former opponent now voicing support for the idea of shipping more oil through B.C.
Speaking Tuesday, Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs president Grand Chief Stewart Phillip said he is now ready to consider supporting the Northern Gateway pipeline — a proposed project that would send Alberta bitumen to B.C.’s North Coast, near Kitimat, for export overseas.
The project was effectively killed in 2016 when the federal government, under a freshly elected Justin Trudeau, announced a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic off British Columbia’s North Coast in order to protect the coastal environment, although it had already been placed on the back burner at the time.
The pipeline had previously been approved by Stephen Harper’s Conservatives, but the approval was reversed when the Federal Court foundOttawa had not adequately consulted …