The federal Conservatives will limit joint panel environmental reviews to two years and the rule will be applied to Enbridge's controversial Northern Gateway pipeline proposal currently in the middle of the process.
In an e-mail response, Natural Resource Minister Joe Oliver said transition measures will be in legislation, announced this week as part of the federal budget, outlining how the changes will impact existing projects.
"Given that current projects are at different points in the review process, this will have to be taken into account in applying these measures," Oliver said.
Skeena-Bulkley Valley NDP MP Nathan Cullen, who opposes the pipeline, vowed to fight the measure, which he said will further corrupt a process the Tories have been trying to undermine from the start.
"You can't get this many months into a process and engage this many stakeholders and then halfway through say 'yeah, we're willing to entirely change the process in the company's favour," said Cullen in a telephone conference with regional media.
In addition to capping joint-panel reviews, conducted in tandem by the National Energy Board (NEB) and the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency (CEAA), the Conservatives will keep NEB hearings to 18 months and standard environmental assessments to one year.
Enbridge spokesperson Paul Stanway said the company welcomes the news but is also waiting for more details.
Opponents have been manipulating the system and stretching out the timeline, Stanway said, noting 4,300 people have signed up to be speakers during the public hearing stage.
An application for the Northern Gateway pipeline was first submitted to the NEB 21 months ago and a final decision is not expected for about another 18 months.
"All industry is looking for is predictability," Stanway said. "We're not trying to dodge any bullet, we're fully prepared for a rigorous and transparent review."
The budget includes several other items dedicated to speeding up reviews and placating environmental concerns. They include $54 million to renew a major projects management office, $13.6 million to support consultations with first nations, and $35.7 million to strengthen tanker inspection regulations, update charts for shipping routes, review oil handling processes and improve scientific knowledge of managing marine pollution risks.
Emma Gilchrist of the Dogwood Initiative, an environmental advocacy group, said the budget shows the government is willing to approve Northern Gateway against the will of a majority of British Columbians and first nations.
"To wrap that many Enbridge-related measures into the budget is quite significant," Gilchrist said. "And applying the two-year cap to reviews that are already underway would be a first. People are trying to figure out right now how they could even do that, it would take some interesting legal maneuvers is my understanding."
Saik'uz First Nation chief Jackie Thomas said shortening the review process will only harden opponents' resolve. The Carrier Sekani Tribal Council (CSTC) vice tribal chief Terry Teegee said the CSTC will closely monitor how the federal bureaucracy get reorganized, especially at the major projects office.
Prince George-Peace River MP Bob Zimmer said setting timelines is necessary and won't compromise the ability to have all viewpoints heard.
"We've seen in the House, for example, where we could debate something forever, and usually within a few days we've heard all the opinions and we just keep hearing a repeat of all those opinions," Zimmer said.
