Energy East pipeline to get Kenora input

Officials with TransCanada Corporation begin a series of public consultations in northwestern Ontario Monday.

They are pitching the so-called Energy East pipeline, whichwould carry more than a million barrels of crude oil a day through the region, en route to eastern Canada.

Kenora is the first stop for meetings. The mayor there says he supports the plan but needs assurances.

My concern is that we live on our water [It] is the resource that we hold the most valuable in this part of the country because we are a huge tourist destination, Dave Canfield said.

We want to make sure that that water is safe to drink and is protected to make sure we do not have spills into our water system. And we need people to come out and tell them that."

Canfield said he wants to see shutoff valves on both sides of water crossings.

The Kenora meeting runs Monday evening from 4-8 p.m. at the Super Eight on Lakeview Drive.

Similar consultationswill take place in Thunder Bay, Nipigon and Geraldton next week.

Representatives of TransCanada's Energy East project will also hold open houses this week in Vermilion Bay, Dryden and Ignace.