Effort to win social licence has been a failure

Please let the National Energy Board do its job, write Prasad Panda and Leela Sharon Aheer

For years, activists, politicians and pundits have undermined the independence of our National Energy Board — despite it being recognized globally as one of the most scientific and exhaustive regulatory agencies in the world for approving new energy projects.

While in opposition, provincial NDP ministers here in Alberta called the development of our oilsands a “catastrophe” and openly mused about a moratorium on any new oilsands projects — despite the fact development in Fort McMurray remains one of the most environmentally responsible oil and gas projects in the world.

For Canadians curious, they should spend some time walking beside the bison on top of one of the several reclaimed mine sites.

It’s why no one should be surprised that the Energy East pipeline project is facing new hurdles as this long history of politicians falsely maligning our energy sector has only emboldened extreme anti-pipeline activists to call into question the integrity of several NEB rulings, including the recent approval of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion.

It explains why both levels of government have attempted to impose more regulatory hurdles and new taxes in an effort to “buy” social license for new pipeline development.

But that endeavour to date has done nothing but hurt the economic welfare of Alberta without any of the promised new backing of pipeline projects from prominent figures of Canada’s so-called environmental movement.

Barely under a year since endorsing Premier Rachel Notley’s plan for a $3-billion carbon tax and cap on oilsands emissions, Forest Ethics, now known as Stand, has remained fiercely against any new pipelines. Stand is now going as far as demanding the NEB be ripped up entirely and to hit the reset button on every new pipeline proposal.

It’s becoming obvious the path to building new pipeline projects does not begin with a naive attempt to buy social licence from some of the most extremist fringes of anti-pipeline activists across the country.

Instead, it should be by allowing our independent regulator to do the job it was mandated to do without having to have its integrity called into question by opportunistic politicians, such as the mayor of Montreal, who has had some sewage problems in his own backyard.

It’s how Canada was able to successfully build four major oil pipelines spanning thousands of kilometres over the past decade, including projects like Alberta Clipper and Enbridge Line 9. Canada did this while balancing the interests of the environment, local municipalities and aboriginal communities without placing massive restrictions on new economic development or introducing new taxes.

With Alberta facing one of its worse recessions in decades, and the unemployment rate in Calgary threatening to hit double digits by Christmas, the NDP should consider revamping its approach to pipelines by pulling the plug on several of its economic policies that are putting the health and well-being of our economy at risk.

The carbon tax will only make Alberta even less competitive with other energy-producing jurisdictions across North America and will hurt working families.

With Premier Rachel Notley’s adviser on the oilsands now publicly using the cap on oilsands emissions as an excuse not to build new pipelines, the NDP should put this policy back on the drawing board and more seriously study its impact.

Instead of allowing pipeline projects and the NEB to be attacked by politicians and opponents, let’s speak persuasively on the national stage for pipeline expansion and support the independent and scientific work of our national regulator to strike the balance between economic growth and environmental sustainability.

That means when the federal government sits silently by while Energy East and the NEB are being openly maligned, that our government takes the opportunity to set the record straight. Let’s also explore and advocate the possibility of a national pipeline utility corridor to streamline the regulatory approval processes nationally.

And finally, let’s not be shy to proudly share the story of our energy sector. No petroleum producing jurisdiction in the world has a better environmental record than Alberta. Let’s make sure Canada knows it. Prasad Panda and Leela Sharon Aheer are the Wildrose MLAs for Calgary-Foothills and Chestermere-Rocky View.