Environment committee  Absolutely. In fact, there's no proponent who would put a multi-billion project at risk by trying to cut corners on that. The engagement is key. In fact, we've done studies within our own association across real projects involving proponents, government agencies, and NGOs, and ha

Environment committee  As far as project development, I would think, yes. These are very sophisticated; a lot of advanced science is applied, well-known procedures that are improved over time and have been demonstrated through follow-up to be quite effective.

Environment committee  For one thing, any time there's a significant delay, you're adding economic risk, which will heighten the cost of capital, and that has an immediate impact, which can be fairly significant, to say the least. If you also have construction delays and you've got crews on standby bec

Environment committee  Any consolidation is helpful because it focuses attention. As I mentioned in my opening remarks, most of our members would prefer to see consolidation, meaning that the National Energy Board is asked to take the lead. That is a routine approach, and the results have been very pos

Environment committee  Yes. Removing multiple steps is certainly helpful. Again, if the focus is on environmental protection, you have to ask, do these extra steps result in a better outcome? In our experience, generally the answer is, flatly, no.

Environment committee  First of all, I would point to the fact that environmental assessment is really an important early planning tool, and it in no way can duplicate details to follow. So I think you've got to focus on a timely decision about whether or not a project should proceed, given strategic i

Environment committee  Thank you for the opportunity to appear here today. I know that you've had a busy morning already, and we hope this will be an interesting session. I should preface this by letting you know that I have spent my entire career as a regulator, as an academic, and now as an industry

Natural Resources committee  Not at all. I would direct you to the slides I provided. The actual data with respect to large transmission pipelines, as provided by the National Energy Board, is on the seventh-view graph you have. It clearly demonstrates that ruptures for large-scale pipelines are significantl

Natural Resources committee  Yes, somewhat.

Natural Resources committee  I can't speak to the validity of that directly, but I do know that there were requirements clarified over the last couple of years with respect to foreign direct investment. They were really targeted at ensuring that money flowing into Canada would be governed under the same sort

Natural Resources committee  I am familiar with that pledge, yes, and--

Natural Resources committee  Yes--

Natural Resources committee  I don't think that is true. I think what's important to keep in mind is that by the time these pipelines.... If they were to be deemed to be in the public interest, what you're going to be seeing overseas is a significant development of brand new technology, so just as we have a

Natural Resources committee  Yes. I believe 2008 is the last date on that particular view graph. The National Energy Board had released its data based on that. Yes, that's correct.

Natural Resources committee  It is. I think the number one development is much better internal inspection tools. Internal inspection is routine for these large diameter pipelines, much as medical technologies have advanced considerably in terms of imaging and an ability to see inside your heart, let's say. Y