In its final written submission to the Northern Gateway Pipeline Joint Review Panel, British Columbia has not supported the project as presented to the panel because Northern Gateway has been unable to address British Columbians' environmental concerns. According to Environment Minister Terry Lake, British Columbia did not receive satisfactory answers about the project including its route, spill response capacity and financial structure to handle any incidents.

The provincial government has established, and maintains, strict conditions in order for British Columbia to consider the construction and operation of heavy-oil pipelines in the province.

Successful completion of the environmental review process.

World-leading marine oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems for B.C.'s coastline and ocean to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines and shipments;

World-leading practices for land oil spill prevention, response and recovery systems to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines;

Legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights are addressed, and First Nations are provided with the opportunities, information and resources necessary to participate in and benefit from a heavy-oil project; and

British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of a proposed heavy-oil project that reflect the level, degree and nature of the risk borne by the province, the environment and taxpayers.

According to Lake, Northern Gateway have presented little evidence as to how they will respond.

In April 2012, the Joint Review Panel released 199 potential conditions that could form part of an authorisation for the Northern Gateway Pipeline project if it received federal approval. In preparing the final argument submission, the Province's legal and technical experts analysed the conditions and determined that they must be strengthened to meet B.C.'s interests and requirements.

The position adopted by B.C. on the Northern Gateway Pipeline project as currently proposed is not a rejection of heavy-oil projects. All proposals - such as Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion or the Kitimat Clean project - will be judged on their merits. The Province's five conditions would still apply.

British Columbia will be presenting oral final arguments to the Joint Review Panel when hearings recommence in Terrace on 17 June 2013, based on the final written submission. (Spill-international, Edited by Topco)