CEP Blogs

When Steven Shrybman completed 7 hours of cross examination of the Keystone Pipeline proponents today at the National Energy Board hearings, it was notable as much for the moment itself as for the information revealed. No one could remember in recent history labour representatives taking the lead in criticizing a major project application before the NEB. It may be the beginning of a new era of public participation in national energy regulation.

Day 2 of the Keystone Pipeline hearings before Canada’s National Energy Board was another day determining the “R” Factor. Are the questions put by labour to the Keystone proponents “quintessentially irrelevant”, as they were arrogantly dismissed by Kemm Yates, Keystone’s Counsel, who interrupted the Alberta Federation of Labour questioning of the pipeline company. Or maybe after 4 hours of cross examining Keystone’s proposal, the “free market” mantras offered up as answers to the questions will turn out to less relevant than the issues raised by the pipeline critics.

The front doors of the National Energy Board offices on 7th Ave. in Calgary could not have sent a clearer message. "Private Property - No Trespassing" was posted on every one of lobby doors. A message for Calgary street people, we assume; perhaps also for public interest advocates and trade union upstarts.

Upstairs, I counted 40 black and navy blue suits in the hearing room, 30 men and 10 women - all of them lawyers or staff representing oil companies. Centre-front were CEP's lawyer Steven Shrybman and the Alberta Federation of Labour's lawyer Leanne Chahley.