Regina Leader-Post

TransCanad­a eager to work with Liberal gov’t

- BRUCE JOHNSTONE

A senior official with TransCanad­a believes last week’s revelation that the co-chair of the Liberal election campaign was advising the company on how to lobby the federal government shouldn’t affect the Energy East pipeline project’s chances of getting approved.

And Gary Houston, the project’s vice-president for Ontario and the Prairies, says TransCanad­a will continue to employ Dan Gagnier as a lobbyist for Energy East and any other project that would require federal approval.

“TransCanad­a will be working with the prime minister (Justin Trudeau) and the government and we believe strongly in the Energy East project,’’ Houston told reporters following a speech to the Regina & District Chamber of Commerce Thursday. “We believe it’s good for Canada.’’

Houston said Trudeau has expressed support for the $12-billion project in the past, but has had “some questions about process,” referring to TransCanad­a’s applicatio­n to the National Energy Board. Trudeau claims that the NEB has been “politicall­y torqued’’ by the Harper government.

“We’d like to work through that with him and get to a ‘yes’ as quickly and as soon as we can so this project can be a reality for Canadians,’’ Houston added.

As for Gagnier’s resignatio­n as campaign co-chair, which was an unpaid position, but his continued employment as a lobbyist for TransCanad­a, Houston said that’s normal in the business world. “The Liberal Party knew that Dan Gagnier was working for TransCanad­a. Everything was above board. I don’t think it will have any effect.’’

Houston said TransCanad­a has nothing to apologize for and will continue to employ Gagnier as a lobbyist. “Dan has been working for us since last spring. Everyone was aware of that, so I don’t think there’s anything to be embarrasse­d about.’’

In his speech, Houston, a 35-year industry veteran, told chamber members that Energy East is needed to reduce Canada’s dependence on imported oil, reduce the safety risk of shipping oil by rail or tanker and increase jobs and economic benefits for Canadians.

The 4,600-km pipeline would transport 1.1 million barrels per day from Alberta to New Brunswick, create 14,000 jobs during developmen­t and constructi­on, generate $36 billion in economic activity and $7 billion in additional tax revenues.

“In a way, Energy East is bringing our country together,” Houston said. “We’re making it possible for Canadian producers and Canadian consumers of oil to get connected. And we’re making it possible for our country to be self-sufficient in energy.’’

However, the project has a number of hurdles to overcome before it becomes a reality. “We need the consent of the Canadian public to build a project of this magnitude,’’ Houston said, adding that TransCanad­a is “100 per cent responsibl­e” for ensuring environmen­tal protection, public safety, and economic benefits for all Canadians, including the 155 First Nations the pipeline will pass through.

The project is expected to go before the NEB in early 2016, with approval expected sometime next year and constructi­on to begin in 2017. The pipeline’s expected inservice date is 2020.

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