Canada’s Ambassador to the U.S., Michael Wilson, has expressed his government’s concern over proposed Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) facilities on the Maine side of Passamaquoddy Bay. To reach the proposed development ships would have to pass through Canadian waters.
In an April 7 letter to Joseph Kelliher, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Ambassador Michael Wilson wrote in part:
“Given Canada’s sovereignty over our waters, and due to the proximity of the proposed projects to the Province of New Brunswick, the local Canadian communities have expressed strong concerns to my government about potential environmental, navigational and safety risks of the proposed projects. Canadian citizens have told my government that they do not want to see LNG tankers transiting the Head Harbour Passage.”
Wilson continued: “In the same spirit of friendship and openness that has characterized the recent efforts by Canada and British Columbia to incorporate Montanan and Alaskan views in the review processes of new mining projects, we hope that the FERC would offer the same level of inclusion and consideration of submissions from interested Canadians who wish to participate in your regulatory process including the Province of New Brunswick or the Canadian government.”
He added: “Given that the viability of these projects depends on the passage of LNG tankers through Canada’s waters in the Bay of Fundy and Passamaquoddy Bay including Head Harbour Passage, I wanted to inform you that the Government of Canada is conducting its own study of the navigational safety, environmental and other impacts of these projects on Canada. This study will be completed during the summer of 2006 and will assist the Canadian government in arriving at a position related to the proposed projects, including whether to enact any measure to avoid LNG tanker traffic in the Head Harbour Passage and, in any event, to minimize risks to Canada.”
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has indicated in no uncertain terms that there are to be no freelance statements by officials of his newly formed government, so it’s likely Wilson is speaking for the government.
Indeed, Greg Thompson, a New Brunswick Member of Parliament whose riding (district) includes communities around Passamaquoddy Bay, has expressed his unequivocal opposition to the LNG projects. Thompson is now a member of the federal cabinet as Minister of Veterans Affairs.