Five Things to know about Ottawa’s new review process for resource projects

At least one advocate hailed the changes as more evidence of a new consultative, environmentally friendly approach to resource development, but complained that Energy East would be allowed to proceed under the new, transitional process.

Mr. Carr said tests on what impact the proposed pipelines would have on carbon emissions “will be a factor” in guiding the government’s verdict, although he declined to say how much weight that would carry.

The Energy East pipeline on the East Coast and the Pacific Northwest and Woodfibre LNG proposals here in B.C. are also affected.

“We are reviewing today’s announcement about interim measures for our pipeline review and will be assessing what it will mean for the schedule of the Trans Mountain expansion project”, said Ian Anderson, president of Kinder Morgan Canada.

The federal government is revamping the way resource projects are reviewed in Canada – changes that include a requirement to look at upstream greenhouse gas emissions.

It also extends the total period for the NEB review and subsequent government decision of TransCanada Corp’s Energy East pipeline to 27 months from the now mandated 18 months.

“If the transitional process is just for projects under review, it shouldn’t apply to Energy East”, Environmental Defence spokesman Adam Scott said in a statement.

The Northeast Energy Direct gas pipeline would be developed through a Kinder Morgan subsidiary in Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and CT.

She says with large deficits, an aging population, and young people leaving the province for work, New Brunswick needs a sizable project or there will be little growth in the economy.

“This is not good news for the natural resources sector”, said Conservative energy critic Candice Bergen, adding it sends a discouraging signal to investors.

The Liberal government, which came to power a year ago, has already effectively closed the door on one major pipeline project, Enbridge Inc’s Northern Gateway, with plans for a moratorium on oil tanker traffic along the northern coast of British Columbia.

“Without the confidence of Canadians, none of these projects will move forward”, he said.

“The National Energy Board has no mandate to do this type of assessment”, he said, saying that it will be funded and executed instead by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story.