A Northern Gateway hearing scheduled to begin Monday in the coastal B.C. community of Bella Bella has been cancelled due to alleged security concerns.
Members of a joint review panel that flew into town Sunday afternoon were met by protesters at the airport, and Heiltsuk First Nation Chief Marilyn Slett was reportedly infomed afterwards that the hearings would not proceed because they felt threatened.
A note posted on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency's website confirmed the panel would not be sitting Monday, but said nothing of the three other days of hearings scheduled in the community.
Meetings are being held Monday morning to determine how to proceed.
New Democrat MLA Gary Coons, who arrived on the same flight as the panel members, said he's surprised anyone felt threatened by the demonstration.
"The streets were lined with people who were very emotional and passionate, but they were mostly kids with their parents and teachers," Coons said. "I saw nothing out there that I would consider threatening, and it's unfortunate that the panel would feel that way."
"Hopefully calmer minds will prevail and these meetings will continue."
RCMP officers were present at the demonstration, and Const. Lesley Smith issued a statement Monday describing the roughly 400-person protest as peaceful.
"There were no incidents to report of," it read.
The Enbridge-proposed Gateway project, which would see a pipeline transport oil from Alberta to port in Kitimat, has also spurred a hunger strike in Bella Bella.
The protesters question Enbridge's claim that the pipeline would create jobs and bolster the economy, and say the company is responsible for 700 oil spills around the world.
Pipeline hearings are being held across B.C. and Alberta into next year.
