Enbridge employees in the NWT face ‘workforce reductions’

Enbridge employees in the Northwest Territories are facing layoffs, an internal email states.

Late last month, the Canadian Press reported the Calgary-based pipeline company planned to cut 650 positions amid “increasingly challenging business conditions.”

Enbridge operates the line 21 pipeline that carries crude oil from Norman Wells to Zama City, Alberta.

In an email seen by Cabin Radio, Daniel Huntley, Enbridge’s director of Athabasca region operations, indicated that employees operating line 21 were “not exempt” from the company’s “reorganization.”

“This decision was not made lightly,” he wrote.

“The company faces a challenging regulatory environment, higher interest rates, and many other challenges in the industry.”

According to the email, Enbridge plans to use existing staff from other departments in the region to “ensure the safe operation of line 21.”

“The reality is that going forward we need to work differently in many areas to ensure success of our industry and operation,” the email states. “In the future, our goal is to collaborate with community stakeholders to develop opportunities in the short, medium, and long term, cultivating a mutually beneficial relationship.”

According to a report published by Enbridge, there were nine permanent and temporary employees and contractors working in the NWT by the end of 2022.

A spokesperson for Enbridge confirmed to Cabin Radio that “workforce reductions” were happening across the organization and around 600 people were laid off. The spokesperson said they had no information about the number of affected people in the NWT.

“I can say that the reductions won’t impact our ability to safely operate our assets up there or ensure the safety of the communities up there,” the spokesperson said.

“Everything is proceeding as normal.”