But questions of fact, technical decisions, could not be challenged. Industry representatives have indicated to us that the National Energy Board as presently constituted functions well, has knowledgeable personnel and has a good track record. Our concern is that we are looking at the board in a snapshot in time. We do not know what it will be like 10 or 15 years from now. Bill C-6 nevertheless gives it an extraordinary amount of power with no checks or balances.
Laws are like contracts.
They should be written to deal with worst case scenarios, not under the assumption that all concerned parties will be forever noble, rational and fair. In committee we attempted to rectify this problem with amendments to allow final appeals of board decisions to a second independent body, the oil and gas committee as defined in the Canada Oil and Gas Operations Act. Having failed to win this safeguard in committee, the Reform Party will not vexatiously continue to pursue a cause which is already lost. Most of the bill and its intent are acceptable to us. We therefore support it, albeit somewhat grudgingly.