BELLA BELLA, B.C. - The first day of a planned four-day hearing by the joint review panel examining the Enbridge (TSX:ENB) Northern Gateway Pipeline project was cancelled in Bella Bella, B.C.

A terse update posted on the Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency web page dealing with the Northern Gateway review panel said the three members would not be sitting on Monday.

It did not indicate if the hearings slated for the same central coast location on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday would also be scrubbed, but officials in the village 300 kilometres south of Prince Rupert hoped an upcoming meeting would resolve the matter.

"They feel that they are not in a safe environment," said Heiltsuk First Nation Chief Councillor Marilyn Slett during a community meeting in Bella Bella on Sunday night.

Slett said a notice from the joint panel was received shortly after members Sheila Leggett, Kenneth Bateman and Hans Matthews arrived at the Bella Bella airport to a rowdy welcome by demonstrators.

Opponents also lined the road from the airport to the village to demonstrate concerns about the plan to pipe Alberta oil across B.C. to port in Kitimat for shipment overseas.

Slett told the community meeting that the airport reception was emotional and powerful, but remained respectful and peaceful.

"We want to let them know that they are completely safe in our community. It is really offensive to have to go over to convey this to the Joint Review Panel. We are a peaceful people," she said.

"I'm a bit shocked and surprised that the panel would pull out of the community because they felt threatened somewhere along the line," said B.C. New Democrat MLA Gary Coons.

He said he arrived at the same time as the panel and was not disturbed by the protest.

"I hope calmer heads prevail and we can continue the process," he said, referring to meetings expected Monday to determine what happens for the remainder of the week.

An expected 18 months of hearings began across B.C. and Alberta in January as the review panel considers a proposal by Enbridge to pipe Alberta oil from the Edmonton-area to port in Kitimat for shipment overseas.

Environmental, aboriginal and social action groups say the risks of a pipeline rupture or oil tanker spill are too great, noting more than 200 tankers would have to navigate the treacherous waters of the Douglas Channel, south of Kitimat, every year before reaching open sea.

The federal government says the pipeline will bring jobs and prosperity to Canada as Alberta oil reaches new markets in the powerhouse economies of China and Asia.

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