HUNDREDS of people blocked streets in central Vancouver on Tuesday after Canada’s government approved a controversial oil pipeline.

Throughout the afternoon chanting crowds beat drums and waved anti-pipeline banners.

Canada’s environmental and native groups have fiercely opposed the pipeline, which would bring oil to the Pacific Coast for shipment to Asia.

Approval for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway project had been expected as Canada seeks to expand infrastructure to export its growing oil sands production. 

But about 220 large oil tankers would visit the port of Kitimat each year and opponents fear pipeline leaks and a potential spill on the pristine Pacific coast.

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark has set out five conditions for support that the company has yet to meet.

The provincial government could deny permits and environmentalists and Canada’s native tribes could delay approval all the way to the Supreme Court, because the tribes still hold the deeds to land the pipeline would cross.

Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs grand chief Stewart Phillip said aboriginal people would block any attempt to start work.

A broad coalition of aboriginal groups has vowed to defend its territories “whatever the costs may be.”

And environmental groups said Ottawa’s approval was no guarantee that the controversial project would happen.

“You need to look no further than the spate of legal challenges filed against this project to know that cabinet approval is by no means a guarantee this project will ever be built,” said Ecojustice lawyer Barry Robinson.