After expressing his concern about non-compliance with the National Energy Board regulations, he took a leave of absence from his job and filed a complaint with Canadian and US regulators, the prime minister’s office and the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of Alberta. Soon afterwards, TransCanada terminated his employment.
Even though the NEB investigated and verified two of Vokes’ six non-compliance complaints, no fines were levied because the NEB had no program for fining violators. Vokes decided to go public with his accusations because he felt the NEB was not enforcing any disciplinary measures. The NEB will institute a fining policy in July of 2013. But many feel the NEB favors the pipeline industry, as discussed in Andrew Nikiforuk’s article Pipeline whistleblower receives national award.
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