Northern Gateway pipeline approved with 209 conditions

The federal government has approved Enbridge's Northern Gateway pipeline, subject to 209 conditions recommended by the National Energy Board and more talks with aboriginal communities. Enbridge wants to build the pipeline from Bruderheim, Alta., to Kitimat, B.C. The federal approval is one more step in a long line of permits necessary for Enbridge to get access to the Pacific coast to ship crude to Asia.  The federal regulatory process began in May 2010 when Enbridge submitted its application to the National Energy Board. NDP Leader Tom Mulcair called it "folly" to think anyone can put supertankers in British Columbia's Douglas Channel, and he said Enbridge has more commitments to fulfil. "One would have thought to put a bit of a fig leaf on it, they could have come up with 210 [conditions]," Mulcair said.