Former Tsawwassen First Nation chief Kim Baird will be on a three-person Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project ministerial panel.

Minister of Natural Resources Jim Carr announced the panel, which also includes Tony Penikett and Dr. Annette Trimbee two days before the National Energy Board gave its go-ahead to the project.

“I’m excited to have been appointed,” Baird told the Sentinel. “The purposes of the panel is to meet with stakeholders and indigenous groups who wish to share their views on the project.

“The panel will also review and consider input from the public via an online portal. The panel still needs to establish the schedule and process and details will be forthcoming.”

Work starts in June for the panel and continues through November. It will then make a report to Minister Carr, which will be made public.

The federal government has seven months to make a decision on the multibillion dollar project. Kinder Morgan must meet 157 conditions set by the NEB including 49 environmental requirements.