CALGARY — A TransCanada spokesman says the company was taken aback when the Quebec government announced it's planning legal action over the Energy East pipeline.
Tim Duboyce says the Calgary-based firm believed issues surrounding the province's review of the cross-Canada oil pipeline had long been resolved.
Quebec Environment Minister David Heurtel says the government sent two letters to TransCanada in late 2014 advising that Energy East must submit to a provincial environmental assessment.
Heurtel says he got no response from the company, so the government would have to ask for an injunction to force TransCanada to follow provincial rules.
However, Duboyce says there were a series of discussions with the minister's office in early 2015 and the two sides agreed on a provincial process that would not include a full-fledged environmental impact study.
Quebec announced that process last June and hearings are to begin on Monday.
"At the time we were of the impression the issue raised in the two older letters had thus been resolved, an impression reinforced by the fact we did not receive any other indication there remained an issue until (Tuesday)," said Duboyce.
Pipelines that cross provincial boundaries are subject to a federal environmental review process administered by the National Energy Board. The federal cabinet makes the final decision, taking into account the NEB's recommendation.
Provinces conduct their own reviews to help formulate their positions, which are considered in the NEB process.
Quebec's move was slammed in some quarters. Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall warned Tuesday it would be "divisive."
But Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said after discussions with Quebec and federal officials, there's no cause for alarm. She said it seems the Quebec government is not seeking a veto over Energy East, but rather wants to do a review similar to one Ontario did last fall.
"I am going to leave the gun in the holster until we are actually at the gunfight, and we are not there right now," Notley said.
SASKATCHEWAN PREMIER WALL DISAPPOINTED QUEBEC SEEKING ENERGY EAST INJUNCTION
EDAM, Sask. — Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall says he is disappointed with Quebec's decision to seek an injunction over the Energy East pipeline.
Wall says Quebec's decision is going to be politically divisive.
He says the move is about environmental politics at a time when the entire country should be supporting a project that will create jobs, reduce the need to import foreign oil and get crude off the railways.
Wall says it's the National Energy Board's job to deal with the proposed pipeline and other provinces should not be impose their own regulatory processes.
Quebec says TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (TSX:TRP) must demonstrate that its plans for the Quebec portion of the project respect the province's laws.
The pipeline would carry 1.1 million barrels a day of western crude as far east as Saint John, N.B., serving domestic refineries and international customers.
"Why slap an injunction against it except if it is about environmental politics and I think it is going to be divisive," Wall said Tuesday. "I don't think they are trying to be, but it is probably going to be divisive unfortunately.
"Let's have one process. Let's respect the fact that there is a national process in place and provinces shouldn't be slapping their own processes on top of that, especially when it is trying to avoid the project happening at all, trying to prevent the project from happening."
PREMIER NOTLEY SAYS ALBERTA WON'T BLAZE AWAY JUST YET AT QUEBEC OVER ENERGY EAST
EDMONTON — Premier Rachel Notley says Alberta won't blaze away yet at Quebec about its decision to seek an injunction over the Energy East pipeline.
Notley says she has conferred with Quebec and the Prime Minister's Office and it appears the Quebec government wants to conduct a review of the proposed project similar to one done by Ontario last fall.
She says if that is the case, Quebec would use its review to get information for a presentation it would make to the National Energy Board.
But Notley says Alberta will come out guns blazing if it turns out that Quebec wants the power to say no to the pipeline.
Quebec says TransCanada Pipelines Ltd. (TSX:TRP) must demonstrate that its plans for the Quebec portion of the project respect the province's laws.
The pipeline would carry 1.1 million barrels a day of western crude as far east as Saint John, N.B., serving domestic refineries and international customers.
"I am going to leave the gun in the holster until we are actually at the gunfight, and we are not there right now," Notley said Tuesday. "We are going to be monitoring this and keeping a close eye on it."
