The National Energy Board is conducting a "reconsideration hearing" behind closed doors in Victoria to listen to First Nations submissions on the Trans Mt. Pipeline expansion.
The hearings were made necessary after the Federal Court of Appeal struck down NEB approval of the project last summer -- citing inadequate Indigenous consultation and failure to consider impacts on marine environment.
The NEB has invited about 45 Indigenous intervenors from Canada and the U.S. to provide oral testimony.
Speakers have been telling the Board the project and resulting increase in oil tanker traffic puts valuable ocean resources at risk -- including the struggling Southern Resident Killer Whales.
Meantime a group protesting peacefully outside the Delta Ocean Pointe Resort where the hearings are underway are questioning the credibility of the "reconsideration" process as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has repeatedly insisted the pipeline project will go ahead.
The federal government also now owns the Trans Mountain pipeline system, after buying it from Kinder Morgan for $4.5-billion.
Hearings will wrap up in Victoria Thursday and will move to Nanaimo from Dec. 3 to Dec. 6. The court imposed a 22 week deadline to complete the new consultation process with Indigenous people.
A final report from the NEB must be in the hands of the federal cabinet by Feb. 22nd.