James Blanchard, the Democratic governor of Michigan from 1983-1991 and U.S. ambassador to Canada under President Clinton has served on the board of directors for Enbridge since 1999.

Yesterday current governor Jennifer Granholm criticized Enbridge for failing to adequately respond to the oil pipeline rupture that spilled more than a million gallons of crude oil in Marshall this week.

Granholm said that Enbridge has not supplied the oil containment booms that it promised. Delays by the company have added to the states mounting environmental crisis, she said, and Enbridge has downplayed the amount of oil spilled and exaggerated the scope of the company’s response.

Enbridge has been criticized for its environmental record which has involved at least 12 spills in Michigan over the last decade.

A call seeking comment on the Michigan oil spill was not immediately returned by Blanchard.