ABOVE: Part 2: Oil by rail through Montreal
Tim Sargeant looks into the debate over the safest way to transport oil through Quebec’s municipalities.
MONTREAL — Canadian oil production is on the rise and is projected to continue to grow in the future.
The National Energy Board is forecasting production of the natural resource will be 75 per cent higher by 2035 compared to 2012 levels.
READ MORE: Quebec residents in the dark about rising crude oil shipments by rail
The demand for crude isn’t being fuelled by domestic energy demand as much as it is by foreign demand.
A lot of the crude will likely be destined for export — and moving the product is becoming a political issue.
READ MORE: Oil by rail: Pipeline delays mean more oil trekked by train – how safe is it?
The majority of existing pipelines are already running at full capacity and rail cars are now carrying more and more crude.
CN Rail expects to double the number of rail cars shipping oil this year compared to 2013.
A lot of that oil runs right through cities and towns that were built next to railroad tracks.
WATCH: Part 1: Oil by rail through Montreal
Many people living and working in those bedroom communities are getting more and more concerned about the volume of oil moving on the tracks and prefer pipelines be used instead.
That’s preferred choice of Vaudreuil-Dorion mayor Guy Pilon.
He doesn’t want a Lac Mégantic accident to happen in his city.
READ MORE: Extracting info: Why’s it so hard to get the goods on oil spills?
Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre also favours oil shipments via pipelines but only if the industry can prove it’s safer and distributors have the capacity to pay clean-up costs and damages in the event of a disaster.
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