In an ongoing effort to ensure the continuation of Enbridge Line 5, the CPA wrote to Michigan Governor Whitmer on December 4 in response to her latest efforts to shut down Line 5.
On November 13, the Governor took legal action, notifying Enbridge that she was revoking an easement to the pipeline in Michigan where it crosses the Straits of Mackinac. Whitmer hopes to have Line 5 shut down by May 2021.
In her letter to the Governor, CPA President Nathalie St-Pierre made clear the significant public interest in maintaining Line 5. “The plan outlined by Enbridge meets the important criteria of environmental safety while maintaining critical energy infrastructure for your state, the U.S. mid-west region and for Canada,” wrote St-Pierre. “To discontinue Line 5 would cause significant and unwarranted economic hardship for our members and their customers throughout Eastern Canada and the United Sates. The CPA strongly believes that it is in the public interest of Canada/U.S. relations and the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador that Enbridge Line 5 remain open.”
The latest effort by the CPA in support of Line 5 builds on outreach over the past several months to Natural Resources Minister Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s premiers and the Michigan Public Service Commission.
The CPA has long maintained that safety is a fundamental priority for the CPA and has long supported the safe continuation of Enbridge Line 5. The CPA strongly believes that there is a balance to be found where responsible environmental stewardship and economic development can both be served by the continuation of Line 5.
The CPA will continue to advocate for the continuation of this critical piece of pipeline infrastructure.