N.B. official opposition blames Gallant government for suspension of Energy East assessment

The official opposition is blaming the New Brunswick provincial government for the recent TransCanada decision to suspend its National Energy Board assessment of the Energy East pipeline.

Although Premier Brian Gallant has been supportive of the Energy East project, a crude oil transport pipeline that would culminate in Saint John, the official opposition is critical of his handling of the issue.

“I don’t understand why there isn’t a greater sense of urgency,” said Trevor Holder, MLA for Portland-Simonds.

“This is a tremendous opportunity.”

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Holder was part of David Alward’s government from 2010-2014 and believes they were close to making the project a reality when in power.

Since becoming the opposition, he says the support for Energy East has waned.

“We’ve made it very clear that resource development, a pipeline to Saint John, shale gas development, all of those things have consistently been a priority of our party,” explained Holder. “When we were in power there was a buzz around this pipeline and we need to get that buzz back.”

Although the suspension is being called a setback by both the government and opposition, both have remained optimistic that the project hasn’t met its demise.

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Holder says now, more than ever, it’s imperative that the provincial government push forward to ensure the project is realized.

“Start working with the National Energy Board to try to get things back on track, start working with TransCanada to tell them that New Brunswick is open for business.”

“This is a healthy dose of reality, it is the 21st century,” said David Coon, NB Green Party Leader

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WATCH: Energy East Pipeline opponents march in Fredericton

1:59 Energy East Pipeline opponents march in Fredericton

Coon opposes the pipeline project and would like to see this decision serve as the turning point for Energy East.

Coon says considering climate change reduction targets that have been previously announced and committed to by the province, Energy East is largely counterproductive.

“The pipeline is not viable if you take into account the impact it would have on greenhouse gas emissions on the targets that Canada has adopted and that we’ve signed onto globally,” he said.

“The fossil fuel era is winding down. It’s got to if we’re going to have any kind of reasonable future for our children and grandchildren in the face of a rapidly deteriorating climate,” Coon explained. “I mean, this is the hard reality.”

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