Government action plan on hydrocarbons - The Québec government reacts to the submission to the National Energy Board of TransCanada's Energy East project

QUÉBEC CITY, Oct. 30, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - Minister of Energy and Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan Pierre Arcand reacted today to the submission to the National Energy Board (NEB) of TransCanada's Energy East proposal to build an oil pipeline by announcing his intention to obtain full, rigorous assessments of the project before taking a position on it.

"Before we represent Québec's interests at NEB hearings, we will examine and analyze the TransCanada proposal and undertake our own assessments. As we have noted on several occasions, we do not intend to give the company carte blanche. If the project is carried out, it must generate fair spinoff for Québec communities in a spirit of respect for the security of individuals and environmental protection," Minister Arcand noted.

He added that the Québec government made public last May its action plan on hydrocarbons, which presents a comprehensive, coherent, integrated, rigorous approach to the responsible development of this option, in particular on the question of the transportation of hydrocarbons.

"In order to maximize benefits for Québec, the government will ensure that it shares its perspective with the communities concerned to assess the potential economic spinoff in their milieu. We will also take stock of their concerns from the standpoint of security and the requisite environmental measures, in particular through the BAPE, in addition to the mandate that we have assigned to the Régie de l'énergie to assess the Energy East project's impact on natural gas supplies in Québec. Mention should also be made of the permanent monitoring unit established on September 19, 2014 and the strategic environmental assessments announced on May 30. The government will base its position on the project on all of these assessments and will appear before the NEB," Minister Arcand emphasized.

"With its rigorous action plan, our government has adopted all of the means necessary to elaborate the recommendations that it hopes to promote at the appropriate time with respect to the project submitted by TransCanada," the Minister concluded.

Source:

Véronique Normandin

Press Officer

Office of the Minister of Energy and

Natural Resources and

Minister responsible for the Northern Plan

Telephone: [phone]

 

SOURCE: Ministère de l'Énergie et des Ressources naturelles

Source: Véronique Normandin, Press Officer, Office of the Minister of Energy and, Natural Resources and Minister responsible for the Northern Plan, Telephone: [phone]