From protests to politics to public hearings, the debate around the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline was never far from the headlines in 2012.
As the federal government's formal environmental review process crawled along, opponents took to the streets to rally against the idea of connecting Alberta's oilsands with Kitimat via twin pipelines primarily due to environmental concerns. Proponents took a lower-key approach, preferring to make their business case in meetings and by citing economic data showing the need for the project.
Politically, the provincial government's new heavy oil pipeline policy sparked a row between B.C. Premier Christy Clark and her Alberta counterpart Alison Redford over how the financial benefits of the project should be divvied up.
In July, Clark's government set out five conditions the pipeline would need before it would consider approval. Three of the conditions had an environmental focus, one dealt with consultations with First Nations and the fifth demanded B.C. get its fair share of the proceeds.
Clark has never quantified exactly what her government is looking for, but Redford has said Alberta isn't about to start sharing its royalties with anyone prompting Clark to walk out of a premiers' meeting in Halifax when the issue of a national energy policy was discussed.
Although the province is demanding adequate consultation with First Nations, Carrier Sekani Tribal Council chief Terry Teegee wasn't pleased with how the policy was rolled out.
"It's a bit of a contradiction," Teegee said. "(Then-Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Mary Polak said) that rights and treaties must be met or no support for oil pipelines, but she also stated that First Nations don't have veto power over the the approval of the pipeline."
The National Energy Board's joint review process, which began in 2010, continued this year with both oral statements from interested individuals in communities along the proposed route as well as the start of the cross-examination phase.
Prince George hosted two days of oral statements in July, with dozens of residents taking the opportunity to voice primarily opposition to the project.
"It's just spills left, right and centre," Lisa Bland said before making her oral statement at the Civic Centre. "It's really showing that despite all of the assurances that we get from the corporations, in the end it's the people in the communities [where spills happen] that are affected."
Opponents also held series of rallies, including one at the Civic Centre on Oct. 24 to mark the province-wide Defend Our Coast day of action.
Council of Canadians chairwoman Maude Barlow and economist Robyn Allan were among the speakers who came to Prince George to preach against approval for the project.
In September the JRP began its cross examination phase, dealing with financial matters. The hearings moved to Prince George in October to debate environmental effects of the pipeline portion of the project and questioning into the marine safety began in December in Prince Rupert.
Enbridge vice-president for western access Janet Holder said her company appreciated the opportunity to gets its side of the issue out when answering questions.
"There's been a lot of controversy and we've finally got to the stage where we're telling our story and getting our information out through the hearing process," she said, adding she felt media reports became more balanced once the company was able to give its perspective.
Enbridge has been working on the Northern Gateway project for a decade and with the environmental assessment beginning to reach its final stages, Holder said the company feels its work is beginning to pay dividends.
"When you work on a project for a number of years as lot of these people have, it's good to see it all come together and gel and move forward to the next stage," Holder said.
