VICTORIA — British Columbia's government says pipelines built to support the liquefied natural gas industry will not end up carrying oil or bitumen.
The Natural Gas Development Ministry says a new regulation prohibits proposed natural gas pipelines from transporting oil or diluted bitumen.
Aboriginal Relations Minister John Rustad says in a statement that the oil-and-bitumen-free pipeline regulation should address concerns of B.C. First Nations about possible environmental issues associated to oil pipelines.
But the Opposition New Democrats say the gas-only pipeline regulation does not go far enough and they will continue their push for a law prohibiting oil or bitumen in the pipelines.
NDP children and families critic Doug Donaldson says he will re-introduce his private member's bill this spring that calls for legislation prohibiting oil and bitumen in the LNG pipelines.
Donaldson's Stikine riding in northwest B.C. includes areas where the proposed natural gas pipelines would be built.
