Evidence of meeting #25 for Natural Resources in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was money.
A recording is available from Parliament.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Do you have any suggestions for us as to how that might be improved? We may do a report on these hearings, and I'd like to hear your suggestions.
9:15 a.m.
President, Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline LP
In our case, I can say the NEB got the job done in the case of Mackenzie right on schedule. They started their hearings back in—
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
9:15 a.m.
President, Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline LP
The original schedule was perhaps a little optimistic, but the actual schedule was not sustainable.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
David Anderson Conservative Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK
Okay, go ahead. I didn't mean to cut you off there.
9:15 a.m.
President, Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline LP
I was just going to say that the issue in our case was the particular joint review panel that was set up to handle the environmental and socio-economic aspects of the pipeline. The NEB sat adjourned from December 2006 to December 2009 waiting for the joint review panel to complete their report. They ran way over their original allocated time and budget.
9:15 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Mr. Anderson, your time is up.
We go now to the official opposition, to Mr. Gravelle, for up to seven minutes.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Ms. Krause, you've made some pretty serious allegations impugning the motives of U.S. charitable foundations, suggesting that they are pawns in some economic strategy.
Do you have any real evidence that there are U.S. commercial interests funding the Canadian environmental movement efforts to protect our wilderness and our coasts? Do you have any real evidence?
9:20 a.m.
As an Individual
With respect, sir, you're putting words in my mouth that I haven't said. What I can tell you is what is written down in the tax returns--
9:20 a.m.
NDP
Claude Gravelle NDP Nickel Belt, ON
I just want to quote Peter O'Neil from The Vancouver Sun, who has you as saying, “I have seen no glaring evidence of commercial interests in the U.S. that are funding the campaigns against the Northern Gateway.” Yet today you've made all kinds of accusations here.
9:20 a.m.
As an Individual
Yes, well I understand commercial interests to be a particular company, and I don't see any evidence of that. What I do see is--
9:20 a.m.
NDP
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Would you let her answer the question, please, Monsieur Gravelle?
9:20 a.m.
As an Individual
I'd be glad to respond to your question.
What I do see is that wealthy Americans have the interest of their own country at heart, as, I think, do we. My impression is that perhaps what is driving this is the overall broad interest of the American economy. I think one of the best things that any country can do for itself is to give itself a good secure supply of energy and to cut the competition off from having that. So I've never suggested, and I would not suggest, that there is a particular oil company or any particular commercial interest behind this. But it is clear--and the foundations have said themselves--that they are interested in increasing the energy security and the energy independence of the United States and also in weaning the United States off imported oil.
9:20 a.m.
NDP
9:20 a.m.
Conservative
The Chair Conservative Leon Benoit
Do give the witness a chance to answer, and you can ask another question later.
Go ahead, please, Ms. Krause.
9:20 a.m.
As an Individual
I would say I do have evidence, but not of commercial interests. I think there is evidence of the motivations. They're clearly written down. I think they are mixed and that there is a real true interest in protecting the environment and addressing the true environmental impacts of the energy sector. But I think the interest is not purely in protecting the environment, because the foundations themselves say that they're also interested in issues of energy security, national security, and energy independence.