Saint John, Calgary Mayors Denounce NEB Decision Holding Up Energy East Pipeline Review
CALGARY – The mayors of Saint John and Calgary held a news conference Friday afternoon to present a united front against the National Energy Board (NEB) decision to consider the Energy East pipeline’s potential impact on upstream and downstream greenhouse (GHG) gas emissions.
“We need tough regulation. We need stringent regulation,” said Calgary Mayor Naheed Neshi in a press conference aired live on Facebook. “But we also need [a regulatory agency] that makes decisions. It doesn’t leave projects in limbo [and] ensures everyone is playing on a level playing field – that the rules don’t change mid-game.”
Earlier this month, TransCanada suspended its application for 30 days after it learned of the NEB decision, which concerns both Nenshi and Saint John Mayor Don Darling.
“Three years in the process and the rules are changing,” said Darling. “The project applicant and the key stakeholders across Canada do not have clarity regarding the regulatory review. This is concerning and unacceptable.”
Nenshi dismissed the need for the NEB’s decision to consider the potential impact on greenhouse emissions, saying it’s unfair and unnecessary.
“To my knowledge, this is the only pipeline that has been asked to account for upstream GHG emissions on the products it’s moving, which is madness because there are environmental regulations on the upstream as well,” said Nenshi.
This pipeline will displace 1,500 oil-by-rail cars. It’s not as if, if you don’t have this pipeline built the stuff is going to stay in the ground. It’s that it’ll be transported by rail and it also means that the refineries in New Brunswick and in Quebec will continue to use foreign feedstock…places like Algeria, Venezuela, and Saudi Arabia.”
Darling remains hopeful that the process can get back on track.
“We hope the suspension will provide an opportunity for the NEB and government to show strong leadership and provide a higher level of detail and clarity regarding the regulatory process…
“Done right this could transport oil safely to where it’s needed in Eastern Canada and around the globe.”
Watch the full press conference below: