The Conservation Council of New Brunswick joined more than 60 organizations representing environmental, civic, arts and justice groups in calling on the National Energy Board to close the Energy East oil pipeline application until a complete project application has been submitted to the regulator.
The call was picked up by media organizations across the country, including the New Brunswick Telegraph-Journal, Financial Post, CTV News, and private radio stations.
Fundy Baykeeper Matt Abbott told the Telegraph-Journal that the current project application contained too many unknowns, especially when it comes to the impact on the Bay of Fundy and the fisheries and tourism jobs its supports.
TransCanada Corporation, the Alberta-based oil and gas company proposing to build Energy East, has yet to file a complete project application to the energy regulator, and has made significant changes to the project since submitting its original filing in October 2014.
In response to the open letter, TransCanada spokesman Tim Duboyce told reporters: “They think that stopping a pipeline will stop our collective daily need for oil, both for transportation and the manufacture of thousands of products, including smartphones, computers, hockey pucks, clothing, car parts, surgical equipment.”
CCNB ensures the public it is not anti-hockey, anti-medicine, or anti-oil, but rather pro-healthy environments and thriving communities.