Energy firm Enbridge abruptly pulled their application to extend a permit for their West Coast Connector Gas Transmission (WCGT) pipeline. Citing no specific reason for the change of course, according to a statement from the company, "After significant consideration, WCGT has decided to withdraw the Application. That said, the Certificate deadline remains November 25, 2024 and we still continue to work with stakeholders and Indigenous groups with respect to the development of the Project."

"These types of permit extension applications were often granted in the past," said Gavin Smith, staff council with WestCoast Environmental Law. "But now under the 2018 Environmental Assessment Act, by law you can only request an extension to your permit once within a ten year period."

The project was initially proposed in 2014, then owned by Spectra Energy and later sold to Enbridge. However, the original facility the pipeline would feed gas to has long since been abandoned, though the pipeline remained on the books. The extension request, the second in the past decade, which is not permitted under the provincial environmental assessment legislations, was not expected to be granted.

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