The Northern Gateway pipeline, approved by Stephen Harper’s government in June, is a pipeline worth $7.9 billion and would run from Alberta to Kitimat, BC. However the pipeline project does not come without controversy. Several First Nations groups, especially the Yinka Dene Alliance, are opposed to pipeline and have sworn to not let it be built. This is because about 25 percent of the 1,177 kilometer long pipeline is on First Nation land. However, Enbridge claims that 26 of 40 First Nations have signed equity sharing agreements, including 11 of the 22 First Nations that are along the proposed pipeline route. If Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project was to go through a PEST analysis, it’s main factor affecting this project would be it’s social factors and if there was a SWOT analysis, there would be a major threat factor. The project is government approved, but there is a strong First Nations force that is opposing the pipeline. I can see why the First Nations would not approve of this project since there is always a chance that the pipeline would burst and cause catastrophic environmental damage. However, the project can help boost the economy from the sale of oil and provide jobs during the construction of the pipeline.
Sources:
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/There+will+pipeline/10122968/story.html
Picture:
Map.jpg. Alexandra Joyce’s Blog. Web. 5 Oct. 2014. <https://blogs.ubc.ca/alexandrajoyce/files/2012/09/map.jpg>.