National Energy Board suspends hearings into Energy East

The National Energy Board (NEB) is suspending future hearings into the Energy East  pipeline project.

READ MORE: Energy East pipeline: National Energy Board has 21 months for review

The federal regulatory body says the safety of participants can’t be guaranteed after protesters forced the cancellation of sessions scheduled in Montreal for Monday and Tuesday.

There won’t be any further hearings into TransCanada‘s pipeline project until the board makes a decision regarding two of the three commissioners overseeing the review process.

“We were and remain ready to respectfully and constructively begin the sessions in Montreal which we view as an opportunity to continue our dialogue with Quebecers on Energy East,” TransCanada spokesperson Tim Duboyce said in a statement Tuesday. “At this stage, we will wait for the NEB to provide guidance on how it plans to proceed.”

“Prior to the scheduled sessions in Montreal, we participated in five productive and respectful sessions in New Brunswick, and look forward to continuing to be able to listen to people’s questions and concerns regarding Energy East and to address them,” he added.

READ MORE: Energy East review heads to hostile territory

Motions have been filed asking for the two members to resign after it was revealed they had a meeting with former Quebec premier Jean Charest who was at the time a paid lobbyist for TransCanada (TSX:TRP).

Montreal mayor Denis Coderre walked out of the hearings on Monday after protesters stormed the room and he suggested strongly the NEB review process had the perception of bias.

READ MORE: Protesters dragged away, Montreal Energy East hearings cancelled for the day

The hearings were set for this week in Montreal before moving to Quebec City the week of Oct. 3.

WATCH BELOW: Energy East controversy

3:05 Montreal protesters shut down Energy East hearings

• Montreal protesters shut down Energy East hearings
• Few environmental answers given at day two of Energy East hearings
• Ontario Premier Wynne in favour of Energy East
• Environmentalists protest Energy East ‘secret deal’
• Energy East hearings begin in Lévis
• Focus Montreal: Energy East pipeline
• Who stands in the way of Energy East and why?
• Quebec seeks injunction against Energy East Pipeline

Previous Video

Next Video

What is the Energy East project?

The Energy East project is a 4,500-kilometre pipeline that would see crude oil transported from Alberta to Eastern Canada.

It has become controversial in Quebec, with many politicians and activists coming out against the project due to environmental concerns.

WATCH:‘The National Energy Board is going to have to decide how it wants to handle the situation’: Jim Carr of NEB hearings

1:38 ‘The National Energy Board is going to have to decide how it wants to handle the situation’: Jim Carr of NEB hearings

Meanwhile, the oil industry, along with the premiers of Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick, have come out staunchly in favour.

READ MORE: Energy East pipeline gets support from Quebec businesses, unions

The review will factor in greenhouse gas emissions caused by the construction of the project, but potential upstream emissions will be left to Environment and Climate Change Canada to tally and for the federal cabinet to factor into its final decision.

The Energy East pipeline would open new markets for Canadian oil by carrying 1.1 million barrels of Alberta and Saskatchewan crude to refineries in Eastern Canada and an export terminal in New Brunswick.

-With files from Reid Fiest, Global News.