Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi and Montreal’s mayor met in Ottawa for the first time since Nenshi said Denis Coderre was “wrong” on his stance against the Energy East pipeline proposal.
Coderre remained adamant that his concern centres around safety and that he is neither for or against a pipeline.
At the Big City Mayors’ Caucus in Ottawa Thursday, Nenshi said that he really has “no message” for Coderre because he believes the pipeline approval is a federal issue. He said the decision should be based on science and it needs to go through the proper channels.
“He’s welcome to take a position,” Nenshi said about Coderre.
“I’d love to know what he thinks about Wideman’s 20-game suspension, too.
“You know, that’s his prerogative and certainly the mayor of Montreal is very good at his job, and he’s very good at getting the best possible deal that he can for his citizens – that’s absolutely his job. But we also have to follow process.”
WATCH: Calgary Mayor Nenshi and Montreal Mayor Coderre both spoke about the contentious Energy East Pipeline issue just prior to attending the Big City Mayors’ meeting in Ottawa Thursday. David Boushy reports.
The meeting will also see six key federal cabinet ministers attend, as well as Prime Minister Trudeau.
The mayors of Canada’s 22 largest cities are in Ottawa for the caucus, which meets two to three times a year to discuss various issues. This year the focus will be on the federal budget, climate change, and pipelines–which sparked a minor national unity furor last month when the Montreal mayors came out against the proposed Energy East pipeline from Alberta to New Brunswick.
B.C. Premier Christy Clark has also placed a set of conditions on a westward pipeline route through her province to the Pacific, raising questions about whether there are effectively regional vetoes over national energy infrastructure projects.
The meeting is the first time the mayors of Calgary and Montreal have been in the same room since the Energy East pipeline discussion exploded on social media.
READ MORE: Wall criticizes Montreal-area mayors for opposing Energy East pipeline
With a file from The Canadian Press
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