ERCB Puts Hearing On Hold

You may have read in today’s news that the Sullivan hearing process has been put on hold. Late yesterday the Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) announced that it is engaging an independent third party to assist in the investigation of an ERCB employee involved in the hearing. According to the ERCB, the purpose of these steps is to ensure that the integrity of the ERCB process is upheld.

Obviously, Petro-Canada is concerned about this latest development.

Yesterday’s announcement has spawned today's rumour and speculation -- a mix that has alot of people asking questions. Questions are good... but let me say that perception is not the most accurate form of reality.

Our interest, like those of the other hearing participants, is to ensure the fairness of the process; specifically, one that is open and transparent. Petro-Canada supports all of its employees involved on this Project and is satisfied that they have conducted themselves with the utmost integrity.

Under the circumstances it’s important that we continue to be patient. As we await the results of the Board’s investigation into its internal practices, we believe the results will demonstrate that the process has not been jeopardized in any way.

Until then all we can do is hurry up and wait. We need to let the investigation process run its course.

Comments

[Jamie McNaul]

Marcus

Thanks for your comment. (I work with blog contributor Kyle Happy here at Petro-Canada and am responding because he's currently out of the office.)

We understand your concerns, but it's important not to jump to any conclusions before results of the Board's investigation are known. We believe the investigation's findings will confirm the fairness of the hearing process.

We continue to support all our staff working this project and we remain satisfied that they have conducted themselves with complete integrity.

[Marcus]

Does that mean that the employee on the Petro Canada side of this equation was reprimanded and dealt with appropriately? The actions of that employee are both damaging to the credibility of the process ( which is, frankly, taking a beating lately ) and to shareholder and corporate interests. I find the whole thing highly distasteful, and it certainly points out flaws in both the regulations and the regulatory body that something like this could go on for so long in the hearing process. It also shines a poor light on Petro Canada for letting something like this happen at all.