Quebec pulls out of NEB hearings on Enbridge pipeline

Environmental activists are puzzled by the Quebec government's last-minute decision to pull out of National Energy Board (NEB) hearings over Enbridge's plan to reverse the flow of a pipeline between Sarnia, Ont. and Montreal.

Radio-Canada, CBCs French-language service, has learned that the decision to pull out cameafter four separate Quebec ministries produced reportsto share the government'sconcernsover the safety, environmental and economic risks of the proposed plan.

Citizens and environmental groups across eastern Canadahave sounded the alarm over Enbridges proposalto reverse the flow of a portion of its Line 9 pipeline toward Montreal.

They are worried about issues such as the possible contamination of agricultural land and drinking water in the eventof an oil spill.

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The Parti Qubcois government, which has stated that a pipeline reversal would bring economic benefits to Quebec, said it would prefer to discuss the project at its own consultationinstead of before the NEB.

Even though Environment Minister Yves-Franois Blanchetdeclined to speak before the NEB, other ministers did filerequests last spring to participate.

However, Radio-Canada saysjust before the hearings this fall, Quebec pulled out.

BAPE hearings may be postponed

The last-minute about-face has left environmental activists surprised and puzzled.

The co-founder and executive director of quiterre,Sidney Ribaux, told Radio-Canada in his view,it was the governments duty to intervene.

He said while Quebec might raise its objections in the future, the federal government might later say thatQuebec had its chance to intervene at the NEB hearings and failed to.

Blanchet said provincial hearings before the Bureau d'audiences publiques sur l'environnement(BAPE) are planned.

However, with rumours of a provincial election looming later this fall, a date for those consultations is now uncertain.