VANCOUVER — Temporary funding for safety oversight programs at the National Energy Board is set to expire as scrutiny of major pipeline projects winds up.
A new report from the federal pipeline regulator shows substantial cuts to staff and planned spending by the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
The report on plans and priorities shows the energy board faces a nearly 24 per cent decrease in planned spending and a 15 per cent drop in full-time equivalent positions.
Spokeswoman Stacey Squires says it's too soon to speculate on whether the board will request more federal funding, adding that resource constraints don't a constitute a crisis.
She says the board instituted a temporary plan for the five-year funding package associated with several large projects like Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline and the Energy East pipeline extension to New Brunswick.
Karen Wristen at the Living Oceans Society says her group is shocked to learn of the budget changes, and criticized the federal government for cutting back on the NEB's capacity.
