Enbridge pipeline hearings end early following protests

Following demonstrations at public hearings in Montreal and Toronto, the National Energy Board has ordered Enbridge to present its final arguments on a controversial pipeline project in writing instead of at a hearing.

After three days of oral arguments in Toronto last week, the NEB suspended its public review of Enbridge’s Line 9B pipeline project late Friday due to security concerns after people opposed to the project disrupted the hearings, chanting, singing and waving flags.

The week before, at hearings in Montreal, police escorted more than a dozen people from the hearing room for interrupting the proceedings when they spoke out against the project.

The public hearings began with a presentation by Enbridge in Montreal, and was to conclude in Toronto with the company’s final arguments. The three-person NEB panel heard from 40 companies, organizations, governments and individuals during the two weeks of hearings.

The NEB review of En- bridge’s project has been criticized for being too limited.

Under new rules imposed by the federal government, only people who are directly affected by the project, or have relevant information or expertise are allowed to participate in project reviews.

Groups opposed to the project said that more than 1,500 people and organizations were able to participate in the NEB’s review of the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline between Alberta and British Columbia, compared with 175 for the Line 9B review.

Enbridge has until noon Friday to submit its final arguments to the NEB.

Enbridge wants to reverse the flow in the pipeline between Montreal and Westover, Ont., near Hamilton. It has also asked the NEB to be allowed to carry more crude oil in the pipeline and to transport diluted bitumen — heavy crude oil from oilsands operations that has been mixed with other hydrocarbons to make it flow more easily through a pipeline.