It’s up to NEB to decide on pipeline reversal

Re: “No ‘blank cheque’ on Enbridge: mayor” (Gazette, Dec. 3)

The report on the Quebec hearings regarding the Enbridge pipeline reversal seems to involve a large number of presentations and much public commentary, starting with Mayor Denis Coderre and including various environmental groups.

It is a puzzle as to why we have this fairly loud public debate and parliamentary hearings at this time, given that the National Energy Board had its hearings in Montreal in October. That was the correct venue for all stakeholders, including the Quebec government, to influence the final decision. It cannot be more clear that the NEB is, by law, the entity to make that decision, and the current debate is a lot of noise, while a decision is being made elsewhere.

We waste time and money, while the NEB is doing its work, and is to come up with a decision in the new year, without the benefit of input from some major Quebec players.

The current debate shows also how much antipathy is generated in Quebec for industrial projects that are a matter of course most anywhere else. Especially strange are the objections of the Confédération des syndicats nationaux. After all, the pipeline reversal is promoting Quebec industry, which should be dear to their hearts, and to the benefit of all Quebecers. Henno Lattik

Montreal