NEB Chair meeting with local officials

North Bay is the latest stop for the chair of the National Energy Board on a cross-Canada tour to meet with elected officials, first responders, environmental groups and first nations.

Peter Watson (pictured below) says one issue they’re hearing about is the Energy East Pipeline proposal.

Here in North Bay, there’s concern about the protection of the city’s only source of drinking water.

Watson says the Energy East Pipeline proposal is one of the largest projects in the board’s history and a lot of communities are impacted.

He says that’s one of the reasons why they’re meeting with officials is to explain who they are and what they do, so they can work with them on a regular basis.

Watson says there is more to the National Energy Board than formal hearings.

He says a lot of people are surprised to learn they provide oversight, day in and day out with pipeline companies.

Watson says public safety and environmental protection are fundamental issues that the board is concerned about.

He says those are the issues they want to understand, from a community perspective and find out what the Board can do to ensure the companies are doing their best to ensure nothing is ever impacted.