We continue our discussion with Michael Bryant on what his experience taught him about the justice system ... a system he was once in charge of as Attorney-General.

And then we examine why some scientists say there's not enough time to study the environmental risks of the proposed northern gateway pipeline project. And why they say Ottawa's mind is already made up.

---

Part Two of The Current

Michael Bryant: 28 Seconds (cont'd)

We continued our conversation with Michael Bryant, the former Ontario Attorney-General who was charged in 2009 in the death of Darcy Allan Sheppard. All charges were dropped in 2010.

Michael Bryant is a former Ontario Attorney-General and his new book is called 28 Seconds: A True Story of Addiction, Tragedy and Hope. He was in our Toronto studio.

This segment was produced by The Current's Kristin Nelson.

Music Bridge

Artist: Chris Velan
Cd: Twitter, Buzz, Howl
Cut: # 2, Long Way From Home
Label: Mutation
Spine: MM 1101

Enbridge Environmental Assessment - Biology Professor, Dalhousie

The Northern Gateway Pipeline -- a proposal by Enbridge that would transport bitumen from Alberta's oilsands to tankers on the coast of British Columbia -- isn't just an energy megaproject, it's created a highly energetic debate over its potential economic and environmental impacts.

The pipeline would cross more than a thousand waterways. An environmental review panel is assessing the risks posed by the pipeline.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Stephen Harper said that the fate of the pipeline rests on science. But some critics warn that funding cuts to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans have severely limited its ability to conduct adequate scientific assessments of this project.

Jeff Hutchings is a professor of biology at Dalhousie University. He says that a recent submission by the DFO to the review panels reveals that the federal agency has already made conclusions about the environmental risk based on insufficient scientific evidence. Jeff Hutchings joined us from Halifax.

In addition to the DFO, we also requested interviews with Environment Minister Peter Kent, as well as anyone from the Prime Minister's office. Those requests were turned down.

Enbridge Environmental Assessment - Canadian Energy Pipeline Assoc.

For another perspective on the strength of the science behind the assessment process, we were joined by Brenda Kenny, the President and CEO of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association. She joined us from Calgary.

Other segment from today's show:

Michael Bryant: 28 Seconds