While insisting the proposed Northern Gateway Pipeline will be safely built and operated, an Enbridge executive says tanker spills are not her company's responsibility.

After speaking to a Vancouver summit on energy, Janet Holder confirmed Enbridge is no longer accountable for oil once it leaves BC's coast.
 
"That isn't our responsibility and that is well-taken care of. We don't need to."

Opponents to the six billion dollar project, including Ben West with the Wilderness Committee, say that's part of the problem.

"The longer that a pipeline is in operation, the greater the risk that there's a spill. You know, it's not a matter of if there's a spill, it's a matter of when.  I think it's important for people in BC to remember that this isn't oil for our consumption. This is oil for the consumption of those in the Asia-Pacific region."

Today's summit was organized by the BC Chamber of Commerce, headed up by John Winter.

He's concerned about the impact of saying no to Enbridge.

"The X-L pipeline to the Gulf of Mexico will become a reality and all that product will go to another market --the one we're already servicing at a hugely discounted price to a great disadvantage for Canadians. Canada needs to get full value for its oil product and we're not getting ..that today."

If approved, the pipeline is expected to create nearly 600 permanent jobs and generate more than a billion dollars in tax revenues for BC.