Quebec to seek injunction against Energy East

National cohesion on Energy East seemed to drift further out of reach Tuesday after the Quebec government announced plans to seek an injunction against the company proposing the cross-Canada pipeline.

Environment Minister Brian Kenny says the Gallant government still believes the project does not have to go through a full provincial environmental impact assessment because the pipeline will cross several provinces.

Heurtel told a news conference in Montreal Tuesday he has asked TransCanada Pipelines to supply a report on the environmental impact of Energy East in Quebec.

His announcement comes a few weeks after a coalition of Quebec environmental groups said it would take legal action against Energy East for the same reasons.

In a statement, a spokesperson for TransCanada said the company has agreed to voluntarily participate in the Quebec environmental consultation process known as the 6.3 BAPE and looks forward “to answering any questions that Quebecers may have”. In January, more than 80 Montreal-area mayors came out against the pipeline project.

“Today the government is not coming out for or against the project”.

Bureau d’audiences publiques sur l’environnement, the province’s environmental assessment agency, will lead an investigation on the Quebec portion of the project starting next week.

And Heurtel moved to defuse any potential backlash from Western Canada against the motion for the injunction. What does a government do if its laws aren’t respected? Wall also said a carbon tax would cost his province $1 billion.

In Vancouver, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he understands a province’s desire to seek “social licence” for pipelines.

Heurtel said his announcement doesn’t constitute an opinion for or against the project, but is rather a request that the company to follow provincial law. “That’s another indication our diversified, resilient economy is weathering the economic uncertainty and continuing to create opportunity for Saskatchewan families”.

“Is it too much to expect that these Quebec municipal leaders would respond to this reality with generous support for a pipeline that supports the very sector that has supported them?”