As an intervenor on the Northern Gateway pipeline proposal (Edmonton to Kitimat) I have viewed tens of thousands of pages of documents.
In addition to submitting Information Requests I have attended sessions in Prince Rupert, Kitimat, Prince George and Edmonton at my own expense. I receive no compensation for my participation.
I do receive discrimination because of my last name. The order for asking questions of the panels is alphabetical. That is advantageous to those at the beginning of the alphabet.
They have better predictability as to when their turn comes up, more attention of the panel and more likelihood their queries may receive press coverage.
Those at the end of the alphabet are disadvantaged by having to wait indeterminately for their turn plus they have to pay attention to all the questions asked before them as they may not repeat a question.
In September I brought this discrimination concern to the attention of the chair of the National Energy Board (NEB) because this is an issue for any panel not just the Northern Gateway proposal. He responded I could take up the matter with the Joint Review Panel which I did through Notice of Motion, suggesting alternatives.
They did not respond until mid December saying the process is fair and a person could change position if they received permission from those ahead. That gives power to those who come ahead of someone alphabetically. Those who have coveted early slots don’t want to give up their position. Furthermore just by not returning a phone call serves to act as a veto because every party ahead has to agree to ones moving up in the ordering of questioning.
Recent requests to have this addressed with the NEB chair were denied.
One has to wonder if basic things like fairness of participation are not addressed how can Canadians expect impartiality in decisions affecting people’s livelihood through placement of a pipeline?
Terry Vulcano, North Okanagan
