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Yet, the Conservative government announced in the spring that cabinet, and not the National Energy Board, will now make the final decision on pipeline projects in the “national interest” — including the Northern Gateway.

Harper insisted Tuesday that a decision on major projects such as the Northern Gateway will be made by scientists examining the “economic costs and risks” associated with the project.

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“The only way that governments can handle controversial projects of this manner is to ensure that things are evaluated on an independent basis scientifically, and not simply on political criteria,” Harper told reporters Tuesday at a news conference in Vancouver.

The only way that governments can handle controversial projects of this manner is to ensure that things are evaluated on an independent basis scientifically

“I’m not going to get into an argument or a discussion about how we divide hypothetical revenues.”

Without naming a specific project, Harper said “it’s obviously in the vital interest of Canada and in the vital interest of British Columbia” to diversify export markets into Asia.

“The economic growth we expect to have here in the future is going to be based on commerce with the Asia-Pacific region and we think it’s important that we continue to diversify our exports through this province,” he added.

B.C.’s conditions, which also include world-class environmental response and co-operation with First Nations, apply as well to Kinder Morgan’s proposed $4.1-billion expansion to its 60-year-old Trans Mountain line that would also carry oilsands crude to the West Coast.