Northern Gateway is in interest of all Canadians, company tells review board

TERRACE, B.C. – A lawyer for the Northern Gateway oil pipeline is outlining the reasons the controversial project should be approved — billions of them.

In final arguments to the federal panel reviewing the project, Richard Neufeld says the pipeline between Alberta and the B.C. coast will ensure Canadian producers get full market value for their product.

And he says that will benefit all Canadians.

The hearings got underway this morning in Terrace, B.C., with a visible security presence.

On Sunday about 200 opponents of the project held a rally, and they say they will hold another Monday afternoon protest outside the hotel where the panel is hearing final arguments.

More than three dozen parties are scheduled to make a final appeal to the panel over the next two weeks, and the panel will issue its report by the end of the year.