- Canada's National Energy Board says the three-man panel assessing TransCanada's (NYSE:TRP) proposed Energy East pipeline will step down "to preserve the integrity" of the board, a decision sure to drag out an already lengthy appraisal process.
- Critics had urged the dismissal of two of three panel members after it emerged that they had privately discussed the project last year with former Quebec Premier Charest, who was working for TRP as a consultant at the time.
- Environmentalists say the move still does not go far enough, saying Prime Minister Trudeau should scrap the whole NEB review process and start over with reviews on Energy East and Kinder Morgan's (NYSE:KMI) proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.