On Monday, the Ottawa Citizen reported, “TransCanada Corp.’s Energy East pipeline project could send as many as 850,000 barrels of crude oil a day through rural areas in the south end of Ottawa and across the Rideau River. The ‘conceptual’ route map for TransCanada’s cross-country pipeline sees oil routed east near Highway 7, through the former municipality of Richmond, then south near Malakoff Road. From there it will transport oil through environmentally sensitive lands around the Rideau River before passing through the waterway. The pipeline will then continue further southeast, through North Grenville, a neighbouring municipality that includes Kemptville. …The pipeline’s proposed path would funnel crude oil through the region’s rural residential areas, many of which are dependent on wells for their drinking water.”
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Bob Chiarelli |
Lisa MacLeod |
Jim Watson |
Scott Moffatt |
Today, the newspaper reports, “(Liberal) Bob Chiarelli, Ontario’s energy minister and the MPP for Ottawa West-Nepean, released a statement saying he is concerned about the potential for an oil spill along the route.” Specifically, he said, “Safety is our top priority. TransCanada has not yet applied to the National Energy Board (NEB) for this proposed pipeline. If TransCanada does apply to the NEB for the project, Ontario will follow our standard practice and participate in the hearing process to ensure that the health and well being of Ontarians are protected.”
While this is not a clear rejection of the pipeline (yet) on the part of the minister, it does give us a basis to push the Ontario government to a stronger position on this issue. And with Premier Kathleen Wynne’s minority government facing a critical by-election in Ottawa South in the coming months, we have another opportunity to push them on this issue.
It is also notable that:
“(Conservative) Nepean-Carleton MPP Lisa MacLeod is also waiting for more information. …MacLeod said while TransCanada still has a long road of regulatory hurdles ahead of it, it’s important for the company to begin reaching out to communities and speaking with residents about the plan. She also said Ontarians should be educating themselves about the pipeline.” She said, “I haven’t spoken to anyone about this and no one has approached me. Let’s not kid ourselves, this is the next frontier for Canada. The pipeline and the resources in Alberta, British Columbia and New Brunswick. The natural resources in Canada are going to be very valuable so we’re going to need to have a strategic approach. Those resources, in order to get through Canada, are going to have to come through Ontario.”
“Calls to Mayor Jim Watson’s office inquiring whether TransCanada has approached the city were not returned. A spokesman for the mayor said no meetings have taken place between the mayor and TransCanada. However, according to the City of Ottawa’s lobbying registry, on April 17 a TransCanada representative met with city officials including city manager Kent Kirkpatrick and deputy city manager Nancy Schepers, with some subsequent correspondence. On June 10 another TransCanada representative met with George Young, Watson’s senior adviser for communications and operations, with correspondence continuing through Monday.”
“Rideau-Goulbourn Coun. Scott Moffatt said while it’s clear that TransCanada has held talks with city manager Kent Kirkpatrick and officials from Mayor Jim Watson’s office, no one has reached out to councillors of the wards that will be directly affected by the pipeline.” He said, “In some places they are doing massive construction and in other places they just want to convert a line that is already in use. So, what does this really involve? I have no idea. Nobody from that company has contacted me and it goes right through my ward. There has never been anyone in touch with me about what it means for my residents.”
Search the Council of Canadians campaign blogs opposed to the Energy East pipeline here.
