'Very displeased' Sask. premier weighs in on Energy East controversy
Brad Wall says provinces should not have authority to veto the pipeline
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall has weighed in on the Energy East controversy, after the Quebec government sought an injunction against TransCanada over the proposed pipeline.
Brad Wall spoke about the injunction to reporters Tuesday at the opening of the Edam East heavy oil thermal plant, located approximately 100 kilometres east of Lloydminster.
"I'm just very, very disappointed," Wall said.
"It seems of late that we seem to be forgetting what's best about Canada."
- TransCanada's Energy East pipeline target of Quebec injunction
- TransCanada tries to win over Quebec on Energy East pipeline
Tuesday morning, the Quebec government said it will seek an injunction against TransCanada to ensure that its proposed Energy East pipeline complies with the province's environmental laws.
Quebec's environment minister said the request for an injunction should not be seen as an 'east versus west' issue.
Wall questioned whether there's any other way to see it except through that lens.
"If there's a prima facie case for Energy East, why slap an injunction against it? Except if it's about environmental politics," Wall said.
"And I think it is going to be divisive. I don't think they're trying to be. But it probably is going to be a bit divisive, unfortunately."
Wall said provinces should be able to ask questions throughout the national regulator's process, but they shouldn't be able to veto a pipeline.
Wall added he is getting his trade officials and trade minister to look at what options they have.
Regina-Qu'Appelle MP Andrew Scheer called on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to allow the National Energy Board to "do their job."
"This sort of political interference in the regulatory process is precisely what Justin Trudeau promised he was trying to prevent," Scheer said in a press release.
He said the additional hurdles added to the National Energy Board process were supposed to avoid this type of scenario.