An NDP MP doubts that new environmental-review regulations expected to be announced soon by the federal Liberal government will stop the planned expansion of the Trans Mountain oil pipeline.

Burnaby South’s Kennedy Stewart said he suspects that although Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said there will be additional requirements in the ongoing evaluation by the National Energy Board (NEB), these will amount only to a postponement in the approval of the $5.4-billion Kinder Morgan Inc. project.

“I feel what they will do is they will delay that decision,” Stewart told the Straight in a phone interview from Ottawa.

The NEB will wrap up hearing oral arguments for and against the project on February 5. It will submit a report to cabinet in May. Under the law, the government has three months to either approve or reject the board’s recommendations, although it can defer making a decision for a longer period.