Madam Chair, it is unfortunate to be questioning the integrity of the National Energy Board. It is a quasi-judicial organization, independent from the Government of Canada, that has been in place for 50 years and whose history speaks for itself. This organization must work within a legislative context. Earlier, I referred to the Canada Oil and Gas Drilling and Production Regulations, which fall under the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act. The act sets out all sorts of conditions that must be met by the operators, including the fact that operators must assume responsibility for spills and damage. All of these conditions are studied beforehand by this expert board.
In the House of Commons on May 31st, 2010. See this statement in context.