Quebec’s action on Energy East pipeline

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Members of Quebec’s national
assembly have called on the province to exercise its environmental jurisdiction over TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline. Their resolution is
effectively a vote of non-confidence in the National Energy Board’s review process for the pipeline.
The resolution, which passed
unanimously, articulates two specific

Members of Quebec’s national
assembly have called on the province to exercise its environmental jurisdiction over TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline. Their resolution is
effectively a vote of non-confidence in the National Energy Board’s review process for the pipeline.
The resolution, which passed
unanimously, articulates two specific
concerns with the current federal approach. First, that the NEB does not consider upstream climate impacts — that is, the impact of producing the crude that would flow through the pipeline — as part of its review. Second, that the federal government still has not adopted
carbon emissions regulations for the oil and gas sector.
Quebec’s elected representatives are adding their voices to a chorus of concern about this pipeline proposal and the
environmental impacts of rapid oil sands expansion. Both concerns articulated by the national assembly were also raised by the Pembina Institute in February, as part of an evaluation of Energy East’s climate implications.
We urge the National Energy Board to amend its review of Energy East to
consider the full scope of its environmental impacts. We also call on the federal government to end its delays and adopt strong emissions regulations for the oil and gas sector.
Erin Flanagan
Pembina Institute
Ottawa