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Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has ordered Calgary-based
Enbridge to shut down a 4-mile (6.44 km) section of the 540,000
barrel-per-day pipeline that runs underneath the Straits of
Mackinac in the Great Lakes by May 12, because of concerns it
could leak.
Enbridge is challenging Whitmer's order in U.S. courts.
Following weeks of hearings from ministers, unions and industry
associations, a multi-party committee of Canadian
parliamentarians released their recommendations in a report that
said shutting down Line 5 could lead to fuel shortages and job
losses on both sides of the border.
"The Special Committee feels that continued engagement between
the Governments of Canada and the United States is critically
important to the continued operation of Line 5," the report
said.
It recommended Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers
pursue "frequent and direct dialogue" about Line 5 with U.S.
President Joe Biden and his administration, to help resolve the
dispute diplomatically as soon as possible.
Failing that, Canada may take legal action or intervene in the
federal court case between Enbridge and Michigan, the committee
said, although it emphasized a negotiated settlement between the
two parties would be best.
The report comes a day before Enbridge and Michigan begin
mediation, as ordered by a judge.
"We concur fully with the findings of the report, most
importantly on the need to resolve the current dispute through
executive action and state-to-state negotiation," said Vern Yu,
Enbridge's executive vice president of liquids pipelines.
(Reporting by Nia Williams in Calgary; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
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