Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer doesn't think the federal government needs to wade into the ongoing pipeline dispute between B.C. and Alberta.
Zimmer, who personally supports the proposed Northern Gateway project as long as it passes the federal environmental review, said each level of government must come to its own conclusions based on their perception of the merits of the pipeline.
Energy giant Enbridge is planning to build a heavy oil pipeline to connect Alberta's oil sands with the port of Kitimat. The federal government's Joint Review Panel is currently conducting hearings into the project and is expected to release a report in 2013 on the environmental sustainability of the plan.
The federal government and the Alberta provincial government are both on board -- assuming it passes environmental review -- but the B.C. government is more skeptical.
Last week, the Christy Clark government released five conditions the project must meet before her government will consider supporting it. The conditions include stringent environmental standards, adequate participation of First Nations and more financial benefits for B.C.
The latter requirement has sparked the ire of Alberta Premier Alison Redford and led to a war of words at a premiers' meeting in Halifax last week. Alberta is opposed to sharing any of its oil royalty revenues with B.C.
The dispute between the two provinces could threaten to derail the project, but Zimmer is steering clear of the provincial spat and said he remains focused on the national benefits of the pipeline.
"As the federal government, we have a responsibility to do what we're supposed to do with the environment and also developing resources and we're trying to do that with a balanced approach," he said. "The provincial government has a responsibility to do what it feels it's responsible to do, but that's up to them."
Opponents have raised a number of safety concerns in the wake of a series of leaks and spills in other Enbridge-owned pipelines in both Canada and the United States, but Zimmer said modern technology means newer projects are more secure. He's confident that the environmental review will eventually give the project a green light.
"I've seen (resource development) advance over the last 30 years to a state now where it's very environmentally sound and safe," he said. "Certainly nobody's perfect, but I've seen dramatic improvements over the years."
