The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Jan. 31, edition that Enbridge is planning to cut 650 jobs across the company to help rein in spending. The Globe's Emma Graney writes that the move comes less than five months after Enbridge became North America's largest natural-gas utility by acquiring three U.S. utilities for $9.4-billion (U.S.) -- a deal that chief executive officer Greg Ebel branded as a "generational opportunity." Enbridge said Tuesday that while the company delivered a strong financial performance in 2023, "cost reduction measures are necessary to maintain our financial strength, be more cost competitive and enable us to grow." Reducing operating costs and strengthening its competitiveness will enable Enbridge to "weather near-term challenges," the company said. Enbridge said it will first look at reducing vacancies and contract positions and redirecting current workers where possible, before layoffs. It called the worker reduction a "difficult, yet necessary, decision" and said the move would not affect safety at its operations. In November, Enbridge announced it was raising its quarterly dividend payable on March 1, 2024, to 91.5 cents a share, up from 88.75 cents.