WATCH ABOVE: Dick Harris speaks to Geoff Hastings on BC1
VANCOUVER – While opponents of the Northern Gateway Pipeline project are being very vocal about their opposition, a new poll suggests British Columbians are almost split down the middle about the government’s decision.
The Angus Reid poll, conducted after Tuesday’s announcement, found 40 per cent of the 1,773 respondents think the decision to approve with conditions was wrong, but 38 per cent think it was the right decision.
Twenty-two per cent are not sure.
It seems most British Columbians, whether they agree with it or not, believe the pipeline is inevitable.
Sixty-eight per cent believe it will definitely or likely be built. Only 25 per cent do not think it will happen.
WATCH: Selling Northern Gateway Pipeline to a skeptical province – Jas Johal reports:
Most of B.C.’s conservative MPs have been silent on the subject of the ruling, with only a handful speaking publically about the project.
On Wednesday night, Dick Harris, MP for Cariboo-Prince George, spoke to Geoff Hastings on BC1.
“I think it’s a pretty limited approval when you consider the 200 some-odd conditions that are attached to it,” said Harris. “Basically what it’s done is moved it ahead to the regulatory body along with all of the conditions that were applied by the panel board.”
He said the 209 conditions are pretty onerous, but they should be. “It’s all about environmental safety in the forefront,” he said. “But then attached to it are a lot of First Nation concerns that have to be met absolutely and then you add to that the conditions that the province of B.C. has and it’s a pretty high mountain to climb.”
Harris said there is a lot to overcome to see this project through.
“If I was a betting man, I don’t know.”
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