The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday, July 5, edition that Enbridge is shedding its Canadian natural gas gathering and processing business in a $4.3-billion sale to Brookfield Infrastructure Partners and other investors as it seeks to cut debt and pay for growth. The Globe's Jeff Lewis and Jacqueline Nelson write that the assets include 3,550 kilometres of pipelines and 19 processing plants located in the Montney, Peace River Arch, Horn River and Liard basin exploration regions of Alberta and British Columbia. It is the latest in a string of deals by chief executive officer Al Monaco who seeks to tamp concerns over high debt and allay questions about Enbridge's ability to fund growing dividend payments and $22-billion in pipeline expansions. Minnesota gave Enbridge the nod last week on its Line 3 oil pipeline, removing the final regulatory hurdle. Brompton Funds manager Laura Lau says there were concerns that Enbridge would need to tap markets to pay for development of the line and other projects. She says that seems less likely now. She says, "It's a sigh of relief that there's probably not going to be an equity issue, or less equity, going forth."