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VICTORIA — When the New Democrats made their move this week against the increased transport of heavy oil from Alberta to the B.C. coast, the accolades soon followed.

“Additional measures being developed to protect B.C.’s environment from spills,” read the news release from Environment Minister George Heyman at 10:02 a.m. Tuesday.

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Eight minutes later, Green leader Andrew Weaver welcomed the promised appointment of an independent scientific panel to assess the risks and determine whether they can be mitigated with regulations.

“I look forward to the new panel providing complete, robust and accurate information on this matter to the minister that reinforces that which we already know — there is no way currently to adequately respond to a spill of diluted bitumen,” said Weaver via news release.

Weaver was, of course, primed to respond. Under the “no surprises” clause of the Green power-sharing agreement with the NDP, he was briefed in advance.