The Saint John-Rothesay MP says a defeated motion put forward by the Opposition Critic for Natural Resources Candice Bergen in the House of Commons on the Energy East pipeline was designed to fail and to divide.
Wayne Long voted against the four part motion, one part of which states that the House express its support for the Energy East pipeline currently under consideration. He says Bergen knows full well that the Liberals are going to wait and not pre-judge the process.
“How can anybody who wants to present to the NEB have trust in a process when the government has already said what they want as the end result,” says Long.
Long tells us he supports Energy East but there is a process that is ongoing, “for a government to step in and say what they want as a result is not fair and she knew that when she tabled the motion. She knew we would vote against that.”
Meantime, Bergan saying in a statement, “It’s disappointing that Mr. Long wouldn’t stand up for his constituents and vote the way he promised during the campaign. Supporting the project behind closed doors is an empty gesture if you won’t vote for it.”
All of the New Brunswick MPs voted against the motion, which was defeated 222 to 92. The full motion reads:
That, given this time of economic uncertainty, the House: (a) recognize the importance of the energy sector to the Canadian economy and support its development in an environmentally sustainable way; (b) agree that pipelines are the safest way to transport oil; (c) acknowledge the desire for the Energy East pipeline expressed by the provincial governments of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, and New Brunswick; and (d) express its support for the Energy East pipeline currently under consideration.
