A federal cabinet minister is reportedly pointing a finger at environmental and so-called other radical groups for trying to undermine Canada’s economy by criticizing a proposed pipeline project.

But some SFU experts say opponents have valid concerns, and they are prepared to comment on those concerns as they crop up during public hearings on Enbridge’s Northern Gateway pipeline project, which open tomorrow in Kitimat.

John Clague is one of Canada’s leading authorities on environmental earth sciences, particularly natural hazards, such as earthquakes. He can talk about the geological hazards that exist in the area of northern B.C. where the pipeline would run and the potential implications of those hazards for operating the pipeline. He says the pipeline’s construction and operation will have to address potential earthquake, landslide and flood risks.

John Clague, 778.782.4924, 604.351.4750 (cell), jclague@sfu.ca

Eldon Yellowhorn is an expert in the emerging field of Indigenous archaeology. He can comment on the legitimacy of concerns that Aboriginal groups have about the proposed pipeline project interfering with present and future archaeological claims in the Kitimat area. Yellowhorn has worked on archaeological claim sites around Williston Lake, north of Prince George.

Eldon Yellowhorn (may be difficult to reach), 778.782.6669, ecy@sfu.ca

Tom Gunton is a registered professional planner specializing in resource and environmental policy as it relates to large projects such as the Enbridge one. The professor in the School of Resource and Environmental Management has said repeatedly the Enbridge project should not ship oil to foreign markets through B.C. because “oil spills are an inevitable part of oil pipelines.”

Tom Gunton, (Victoria resident), 250.477.7601, tgunton@sfu.ca