N.B. premier says Montreal mayors’ dismissal of Energy East a blow to economy, Canadians

Premier Brian Gallant says he’s disappointed to see the mayors of Quebec stand up against the Energy East Pipeline project.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Gallant said the Energy East is an incredibly important project for the province.

“Well, for me it’s very clear as a country that we have to focus on creating jobs. So, when I hear somebody say what I heard yesterday from the mayors, well what’s the alternative?” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Well, for me it's very clear as a country that we have to focus on creating jobs. So, when I hear somebody say what I heard yesterday from the mayors, well what's the alternative?" he said.

“We have to as a country work together to ensure that we have economic growth and that there are jobs being created.”

READ MORE: Energy East criticism ‘short sighted’: Alberta Premier Notley

The mayors of Greater Montreal spoke out on Thursday saying they thought the environmental risks outweighed the economic benefits for their region.

Gallant said the worsening economy is the most significant and important challenge Canadians are facing today. He added that that Canadians want to be working, and that the pipeline would provide solutions to both those issues.

“[It will] stimulate the economy in the short term, giving jobs to Canadians when they need them and also helping an industry that is very important to the economy in the long term,” he said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "[It will] stimulate the economy in the short term, giving jobs to Canadians when they need them and also helping an industry that is very important to the economy in the long term," he said.

The proposed pipeline would take Alberta crude as far east as an Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, N.B., and would be capable of carrying up to 1.1 million barrels a day from the West to the East.

With files from The Canadian Press.