Ottawa councillors concerned about Energy East pipeline

Some Ottawa city councillors are raising concerns over TransCanada's proposed Energy East pipeline that would run through the west and south ends of Ottawa.

The pipeline proposal, which still needs regulatory approval, would send 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Western Canada to refineries and export terminals in Quebec and New Brunswick.

Five Ottawa city councillors met with company representatives in a closed door meeting this week, including Scott Moffatt.

"In all honesty, I don't think they have answers just yet," said Moffatt.

He said TransCanada is not clear on how it would respond to a spill.

"Their take on it is it really depends on what kind of spill it is, where it is, and all these things," said Moffatt.

"You just want to know that they would have people in place should a spill happen in Ottawa," he said.

Meeting coming in October

Councillor Shad Qadri said the meeting was helpful, but that residents also want face time.

"TransCanada did give me some assurances as to the standards that they practice, in terms of the safety of their equipment and their pipelines," said Qadri.

"But on the other side of the equation is the fact that the public still hasn't had an opportunity to ask questions," he said.

TransCanada will hold an open meeting for residents in Stittsville in early October.

The company said it won't have an emergency response plan in place until it meets with local communities and the pipeline's construction is complete.