Learning from Energy East

Dialogues on Canadian Energy podcasts

Jean-François Thibault is a energy news commentator who appears frequently in various written and spoken media in Quebec.

• Energy East is a symbol of different things to different parts of the country, what do you think its demise means to Quebec?
• All projects have specific aspects of their development and implementation that become problematic, in the case of Energy East, there was the impact on gas consumers from taking existing gas transmission infrastructure out of service and convert to oil transport. How big a factor was this?
• What is your opinion of how the Trudeau government handled this project? It's apparent willingness to extend a de facto veto to Quebec, notwithstanding federal jurisdiction. Its changing of the rules on the regulatory process after literally billions has been spent.
• Energy East was always a project that was a third best option, in my view, in terms of required infrastructure, but it did have real shipping agreements underpinning it commercially. It provided real optionality and benefits to Quebec and Eastern Canada. And with minimal engineering risks, compared to crossing the Coastal Mountains. Why was this gift horse treated in such a hostile fashion?