Southwold Pipeline Project

Project updates

Public information sessions

Stantec Consulting Ltd. has been hired to conduct an environmental study to assess the potential environmental and socio-economic effects that may result from this project.

As part of this study, an in-person public information session will be held. Interested parties, including the media, are invited to attend.

There they can project team members in person, learn more about the project and provide feedback. Information about how attendees can stay informed and participate in the ongoing consultation will also be provided.

In-Person Public Information Session

• Feb. 24, 2025, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Keystone Complex, 35921 Talbot Line, Shedden, ON

Virtual Public Information Sessions

Two virtual public information sessions will also be held. Visitors may provide their input on the project here. Members of the public and the media will also be invited to take part in the virtual sessions.

• First session: Feb. 24, 2025 to Mar. 9, 2025. Visitors may view the materials here.
• Second session: Date TBD

The purpose of the first set of information sessions is to evaluate and get feedback regarding the project, including the preliminary preferred route and alternative routes. The second information session will present the route that is ultimately chosen as the preferred route for the project, as well as outline the factors that went into choosing it.

Project calendar

The tasks and timelines for this project are presented below:

Project consultation

For new construction projects, engagement with Indigenous communities, government agencies, municipalities, stakeholders, the public and other interested persons is an integral component in the route and site selection process.

Prior to construction, public input is obtained to ensure that the community is advised of the proposed project, and to involve the public in the decision-making process. Public consultation is a key component of the environmental report.

By providing the public with an opportunity to receive information about the project, the consultation program helps identify and address stakeholder concerns, and have meaningful participation into the project review and development process.

Public input from the virtual information session will be used to help finalize the project and mitigation plans to be implemented during construction.

Public notification

Public information sessions

Stakeholder consultation is an important part of this study. Members of the public, regulatory agencies, and other stakeholders are invited to attend one in-person information session and two virtual information sessions to review the project and provide comments.

In-Person Public Information Session

• Feb. 24, 2025, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Keystone Complex, 35921 Talbot Line, Shedden, ON

Virtual Public Information Sessions

Two virtual public information sessions will also be held. Members of the public and the media are also invited to take part in the virtual sessions. Visitors may view the materials here.

• First session: Feb. 24, 2025 to Mar. 9, 2025
• Second session: Date TBD

Project letters

Notice of Upcoming Project letters were mailed out to the OPCC, agencies, local Municipalities, directly and indirectly affected landowners, and Indigenous communities in January 2025. Read the Notice.

Notice of Project Commencement letters were mailed out to the OPCC, agencies, local Municipalities, directly and indirectly affected landowners, and Indigenous communities on in February 2025. A second set of letters, including notification about the second virtual information session, will be sent to the same parties later in 2025. Read the Notice.

Newspaper advertisements

The Notice of Upcoming Project and Notice of Project Commencement were advertised digitally, via a banner advertising the project that to those who visit a website in a pre-determined geographic area.

Regulatory information

The Southwold Pipeline Project is regulated by the Ontario Energy Board (OEB), an independent government agency that regulates the electricity and natural gas sectors. After a public review and hearing, the OEB will determine whether to approve the project. In this section, you can review all regulatory files about the project, once they are available.

Environmental assessment

In accordance with the OEB's Environmental Guidelines for the Location, Construction, and Operation of Hydrocarbon Projects and Facilities in Ontario, 8th Edition (2023), Enbridge Gas retained the services of Stantec Consulting, an independent environmental consultant, to complete an environmental assessment for the proposed project.

The purpose of the environmental assessment is to:

• identify any potential impacts of the proposed project on the social, economic and natural environments
• identify local or provincial concerns regarding the proposed project
• determine preferred routing of the pipeline segments
• gather input from agencies, stakeholders, Indigenous communities, affected landowners, and the public.

It will also recommend the mitigation measures to limit impacts on the social, economic and natural environments. It is important to minimize potential negative impacts of the proposed pipelines and associated facilities on the environment. The data, analysis and results of the environmental assessment will be detailed in the environmental report.

You can read the environmental report here once it is available.

Leave to construct application

Enbridge Gas plans to file a leave to construct application with the OEB. It is tentatively expected to be filed in Q3 of 2025. You can read the application here once it is available.

If it finds the project to be in the public interest, the OEB will issue its Decision and Order, granting leave to construct the project. This decision is expected in 2026. You can read the Decision and Order here once it is available.

Contact information

If you have any questions, please contact:

Michael Candido
Environmental Scientist
Stantec Consulting Ltd.
Telephone: (519) 585-3439
Email: SouthwoldEA@stantec.com