VANCOUVER — A lawyer representing Canada's oil and natural gas industry says those groups that didn't take part in an environmental review process lost the chance to have their voices heard on the Northern Gateway pipeline project.
Lewis Manning told a Federal Court of Appeal in Vancouver that it's a shame that some organizations chose not to take part in the process.
A group of 18 First Nations, environmental groups and a labour union launched the appeal aimed at overturning approval for Enbridge's controversial $7-billion pipeline proposal.
Manning, a lawyer for the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers, told the court the joint review panel made "every conceivable effort" to accommodate participation and would have done its best to mitigate any concerns.
Northern Gateway would see a 1,177-kilometre double pipeline carry diluted bitumen from Alberta's oilsands to B.C.'s coastline for export overseas.
The appeal court proceedings are expected to wrap up today.
