Energy East pipeline proposal meets opposition in Winnipeg

Several groups in Manitoba voicedopposition Monday to TransCanada's proposed Energy East pipeline, which would transport crude through the province en route to eastern Canada.

TransCanada executives were in Winnipeg for an information session with 20 Manitoba First Nations delegates.

They were met by a group of protesters Monday at the Delta Hotel.

The protesters were angry First Nations leaders were even talking withTransCanadaabout the proposed pipeline amid concerns about water quality and climate change.

TheCBC'sKiranDhillonreported protesters were not allowed inside the meeting.

Energy East

The citizens' groupscalled on the National Energy Board to include a full audit of climate change impacts in its review of the proposed project, which would see a 4,600-kilometre pipeline snake eastward across the prairies.

If approved, the $12-billion pipeline project would carry 1.1-million barrels of oilsands crudeper day fromAlbertathrough six provinces,including Manitoba, to refineries in Quebec and New Brunswick.

TransCanada formally applied for federal government approval for Energy East with the National Energy Board earlier this fall.

There is growing environmental opposition in Ontario and Quebec to the plan.

• TransCanada formally applies to NEB for Energy East pipeline approval
• Wynne, Prentice meet to talk Energy East pipeline
• Sask.premier concerned about Ontario, Quebec position on Energy East
• Energy East pipeline 'advocates' targeted in TransCanada PR move

Grand Chief Terry Nelson, part of the Southern Chiefs Organization,said First Nations aren't taking sides on the pipeline.

"If you never sit down with the companies, how do you get the information?" he said.

TransCanada maintains the projectcould bring thousands of jobs to FirstNations people across the country. TransCanadahas also said that since its plans would repurpose an old gas line for the Manitoba portion, little new infrastructure would beneeded in the province.

Concerns over safety of project

But the Manitoba groups protesting Monday, which includethe Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition, the Council of Canadians, Idle No More,Kairos, the University of Winnipeg Students Association and the Wilderness Committee, aren't convinced of the project'simpact or safety.

They areurging the National Energy Board to consider the environmental and social effects of the proposed pipeline.

"I can't keep holding out hope that our governments are taking climate change seriously," Alex Paterson, a spokesperson for Manitoba Energy Justice Coalition, stated in a news release.

"If we fully develop the tar sands this century, we go over our carbon budget. If the NEB won't consider this, how can I believe they areconducting a legitimate review?"

Two-thirds of the TransCanada pipeline is already in the ground carrying natural gas from Alberta to Ontario. The Energy East plan would convert it to carry oilsands bitumen and then build a new section of pipeline into Quebec and New Brunswick.