The election of Donald Trump to the White House has breathed new life into the possibility that TransCanada’s Keystone XL pipeline could be revived. That would see Alberta crude sent south of the border bound for refineries in the Gulf of Mexico.
The proposed Energy East Pipeline, also a TransCanada project, would see bitumen make it’s way across the country to Saint John.
READ MORE: Mitch McConnell asked Donald Trump to back Keystone pipeline
The National Energy Board (NEB) hearings into Energy East are currently in a hold pattern and the board has yet to replace three original panel members that recused themselves, leading some to ask where that leaves the proposed mega-project.
“So it does introduce that level of uncertainty that makes markets nervous.”
While experts say there is enough market to serve both projects, Trump’s support for Keystone XL has attracted the attention of New Brunswick’s premier.
“There’s no doubt that after President Trump will take office, things may change a bit so we have to continue to monitor this,” Brian Gallant said Tuesday.
READ MORE: Donald Trump win could renew talks on Keystone XL pipeline: TransCanada
In a statement, TransCanada’s Tim Duboyce says the company is committed to Energy East, saying it would serve “a vastly different market, providing access and more options for Canadian shippers and refineries.”
“It is equally important to note that oil shippers remain firmly supportive of Energy East.”
“It’s always been our understanding that the oil business, the oil industry in Canada has to diversify its markets,” Gallant said. “Meaning that, as is right now, they’re already too dependent on the U.S., so projects like the Energy East Pipeline would help them do that.”
Whatever the situation south of the border, pipeline opponents in Saint John say their stance is unchanged.
“I’m not letting my guard down, absolutely not,” said Lynaya Astephen of the Red Head Anthony’s Cove Preservation Association, who was granted intervenor status at the NEB Hearings in Saint John.
The federal government has supported Keystone in the past, with Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr saying Tuesday “the government had indicated its support for Keystone XL, and also said it was disappointed when President Obama saw it a different way.”
“All of the necessary approvals in Canada are in place, they have not timed out, and if the company decides that it wants to introduce it once again, the government will, as it was before, be supportive of the application,” Carr said.
Official Opposition Leader Rona Ambrose questioned whether Prime Minister would do “the right thing” and “move quickly” to support the Keystone project now that Trump has renewed the conversation.
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