Gaetan Caron hired for Energy East file by Saint John

Saint John has hired the former chair of the National Energy Board to help prepare the city's brief at anticipated hearings on the Energy East pipeline project.

Gaetan Caron's term as chair ended in June 2014 and he is now a private consultant.

If the pipeline is built Saint John, as its terminal, will receive as much as 1.1 million barrels of crude oil every day. It would also host a large tank farm. That would definitely make it an impacted community and Mayor Mel Norton says it is his understanding the city has already been granted intervenor status.

"The reason the Energy East project is a viable project is because of Saint John," said Norton. "It's because of our tide water, first and foremost. It's because of the access to world markets. So Saint John has a tremendous voice and tremendous clout on a project like this."

Because Saint John is an ocean port with access to world markets, a higher price can be charged for western crude as it would then be able to be priced for the export market.

Norton says Caron will give advice on how to "positively influence this project in the best interests of the citizens of Saint John."

He likened the city preparing its brief without Caron's help to someone going to court and acting as his own lawyer.

Gaetan Caron's term as NEB chair ended in June 2014 and he is now a private consultant.

Norton says the city wants to ensure the project is safe for the public, safe for the environment and maximizes economic benefits for Saint John.

Saint John council is already on record as supporting Energy East. It passed a formal motion in November stating the project is of "utmost importance" to the city.

Caron will be paid $180 per hour to a maximum of $30,000.

I just see us spending a whole lot of money for something that we have very little say in.- Coun. Shirley McAlary

But Coun. Shirley McAlary worries that will just be the start. McAlary, who says she supports the pipeline project, is concerned consulting fees will mount as hearing dates — which have yet to be set — get closer.

"I just see us spending a whole lot of money for something that we have very little say in," said McAlary. "When we agreed to be the intervenor I never thought it was going to cost us any money."

She pointed to a deficit for snow clearing last winter that could reach $2.8 million by the end of 2015.

Caron will arrive in Saint John Sept. 28 for meetings with city staff.