Federal party leaders and some First Nations communities voiced their unequivocal opposition to the Northern Gateway Tuesday after the Harper Conservatives announced a conditional approval for the pipeline project between Alberta’s oilsands and British Columbia’s coast. Supporters of the project, meanwhile, said the federal rubberstamp was an important step toward economic prosperity and jobs.

Here’s what they had to say:

NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair:

“You can no longer force projects like this from the top-down. We’re talking about a severe threat to social order, social peace in British Columbia and across Canada. Mr. Harper continues to ignore science, continues to ignore First Nations, continues to ignore communities. And that’s his track record, he doesn’t listen to anyone.”

“This decision will immediately be set aside by an NDP government in 2015, as failing with regard to the environment, failing with regard to the economy and failing with regards to social obligations, especially those regarding First Nations.”

“Mr. Harper expressed his decision three years ago, so there’s nothing surprising today.”

Former Conservative cabinet minister Stockwell Day:

“The joint review panel reflected probably the most extensive and most rigorous assessment review that I’ve ever seen, indicates that another hurdle has been cleared, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”

“I can tell you, the prime minister was very clear all along: this project does not go ahead if it doesn’t get joint review panel approval based on science.”

“This will be one of the most modern and sophisticated pipelines -- if it gets built -- in the world.”

Liberal Leader Justin Trudeau:

The pipeline threatens not only the British Columbia coastal economy, but the jobs of thousands of people who live on the ocean.”

“If I win the honour of serving as prime minister, the Northern Gateway pipeline will not happen.”

“This government has been nothing but a cheerleader for this pipeline from the very beginning when Canadians needed a referee.”

Green Party Leader Elizabeth May:

“The B.C. people, the great majority are against this project and we must stop it.”

“I will give my support to (British Columbia Premier Christy Clark) for each step against Enbridge.

"It’s clear that it’s not in the interest of the province of B.C.”

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the Union of B.C. Chiefs:

“We’re still completely disgusted with the arrogance of the Harper government and deeply angered that the Harper government would completely dismiss the constitutional and legal rights of the First Nations people in this province, not to mention the rights and interests of the vast majority of British Columbians, who are also opposed to heavy oil pipelines in British Columbia.”

“We will move into the courts, this will be protracted litigation, it will span a number of years.”

Richard Neufeld, Former B.C. energy minister and current Conservative Senator:

“Not all the people in British Columbia are opposed to this project, there are lots that approve it. I know where I come from in northeastern British Columbia, you would probably find that most people would approve of it. Especially the science-based, facts-based process that this went through.”

“I think you can’t guarantee that nothing could happen ever, but you can actually guarantee that a line of this type, of this nature, will have all the most modern technology you can imagine to make sure that it is safe, because of the type of terrain that it’s going through.”