OTTAWA - The head of Canada's new Major Projects Office and her staff sidestepped MPs' questions Thursday about whether she has special powers to skirt the West Coast tanker ban.

Dawn Farrell was hired earlier this year as the CEO of the new office, which has been tasked by the federal government with reviewing project proposals to see if they qualify for fast-track approval.

Farrell told the House of Commons standing committee on environment and sustainable development 500 projects are waiting to be reviewed by her office, with nine currently being assessed. It's not clear which additional projects her office is reviewing beyond the initial five announced by Prime Minister Mark Carney in mid-September.

During the committee hearing Thursday, Conservative MP Branden Leslie said he's hear

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