Inside Ottawa Valley reports, “The Rideau Environmental Action League (REAL) is hosting a public information session (about the Energy East pipeline) on Wednesday, March 12 at the Station Theatre, Smiths Falls. Andrea Harden from the Council of Canadians, Ian Angus of Sustainable North Grenville, and Ben Powless, formerly of Ecology Ottawa, will present their thoughts, and a question period will follow.”
The article explains, “TransCanada wants to convert its existing natural gas pipeline, which passes through our backyard in North Grenville and under the Rideau River, to carry bitumen and other forms of crude oil. It is not clear if this pipeline, built in the 1970s, can handle the material. Leaks are inevitable, cleanups costly, and the potential for contaminating water supplies a major concern. …The Ontario Energy Board will be holding public consultations in March and April to assess Ontario’s position, and will present their conclusions to the National Energy Board, who ultimately must give their approval for the pipeline to proceed. . …Ontario residents would be wise to find out how the Energy East pipeline is going to affect us. If we want any changes made, now is the time to make our suggestions, before the pipeline is approved.”
In addition, from April 7-16, the Council of Canadians, with local partners, will be visiting communities across Ontario to talk about this pipeline. This tour will feature Council of Canadians chairperson Maude Barlow, Eriel Deranger of the Athabasca Fort Chipewyan First Nation, a local speaker, and a video presentation about the diluted bitumen pipeline spill in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
Tour dates
April 7 – Kenora
April 9 – Thunder Bay
April 12 – North Bay
April 13 – Ottawa
April 15 – Kemptville
April 16 – Cornwall
The admission to these events is free. To RSVP on Facebook please click here.
With respect to the upcoming March 12 event in Smiths Falls, “If you have particular questions you would like answered, you are invited to submit them to REAL at info@REALaction.ca in advance of evening. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Brief videos on pipelines, energy and the tar sands will be shown from 6:30 to 7 p.m., when our emcee will introduce the speakers. Admission is free, but donations to cover costs are welcome. The evening is anticipated to wrap up about 8:30 p.m.”
Map by 923jackfm.
