Just a reminder, we're still waiting on Natural Resources Canada to let us know when the changes to the NEB process and environmental reviews are coming. No rush or anything, as the Kinder Morgan pipeline hearing continues in Burnaby. These changes were in the Liberal election platform. Prior to the election, Local Liberal MP Terry Beech told us his party would "redo" the NEB process. Post-election, he's said there's going to be a transitory process for projects currently under review.
We're still waiting for details on that. Here's the latest I've heard from NRCan. There was a recent Bloomberg article saying the changes would be announced in the "coming weeks." Since that could mean here to eternity, my request was for specificity, ie: when, exactly, will these changes be announced. Here's their reply:
Good afternoon Jennifer,
Regarding your query today:
The Government of Canada is committed to modernizing the NEB and introducing new environmental assessment processes - in consultation with stakeholders - to build public confidence.
It is unrealistic and unwise for the government to rush through these important short-term and long-term regulatory changes given the importance of the issues of environment, climate change and sound energy decisions.
In the interim, the Minister of Natural Resources has committed to putting in place a transition plan to provide certainty on how projects will be managed.
More details on transition plans for projects, will be provided in the near future. No project will be required to return to square one.
Thank you,
Danica Vaillancourt
NRCan, Public Affairs Division / RNCan, Division des affaires publiques
Not very helpful. Here's my response.
And thus goes the waiting game.
