The Quebec government is asking TransCanada to follow the province’s laws when it comes to its Energy East pipeline project.
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Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is dismissing suggestions that opposition to the proposed Energy East pipeline is creating a rift between eastern and western provinces.
The Energy East pipeline would carry 1.1 million barrels of oil daily from Alberta to New Brunswick.
The Quebec announcement would come as a federal-provincial meeting gets set to begin in Vancouver on climate change. The groups argue that Quebec’s Environment Quality Act stipulates that any pipeline longer than two kilometres is subject to an environmental impact assessement, that it must be reviewed by an independent government agency, and that it must obtain authorization certificates from the provincial government.
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has vocally backed the Energy East pipeline, which would ship Alberta crude oil to refineries in eastern Canada and global markets, and he’s pushing for Ottawa to champion the project.
TransCanada spokesman Tim Duboyce said the company was “a little bit perplexed” by the injunction, given that Heurtel had ordered a separate provincial environmental study of the pipeline last June.
In a statement, a spokesperson for TransCanada said the company has agreed to voluntarily participate in the Quebec environmental consultation process known as the 6.3 BAPE and looks forward “to answering any questions that Quebecers may have”.
So far, TransCanada has not responded to Quebec’s request that it give formal notice of the project, though the company is scheduled to appear before a provincial board next week for a less stringent review.
That means B.C. must make its own decision on the controversial plan after consulting with and accommodating indigenous communities along the route. The conditions include receiving regulatory environmental approval, First Nations support and a test on the economic benefits.
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“It’s the same issue, only the Quebec government has made a decision to go to court”, Coon said Tuesday.
