NEB suspends Northern Gateway timeline review after initial approval quashed

The National Energy Board has suspended a review on whether to extend the amount of time Enbridge Inc. has to start development of the Northern Gateway pipeline.

The board says it made the decision in response to the Federal Court of Appeal's ruling last week that invalidated the original approval of the $7.9-billion project.

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The court ruled 2-1 that the Canadian government failed in its duty to consult with aboriginal people before approving the development in 2014.

The board has also suspended its review of any filings from Northern Gateway on its compliance with the 209 conditions attached to the project.

One of the conditions of the initial approval was that construction start by the end of this year, a deadline Enbridge wanted to extend by three years.

The proposed pipeline would transport 525,000 barrels of oil per day from northeast of Edmonton to the deepwater port of Kitimat, B.C., for export to international markets, though there are doubts it will proceed.

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