QUEBEC – Prime Minister Stephen Harper says the proposed Energy East pipeline project is a good one in principle and that it is important for Canada to sell its energy products.
But Harper said any pipeline projects in Canada will be subject to a rigorous independent analysis.
Harper said today that job-creation is his government’s top priority and that pipeline projects can help in that area.
READ MORE: TransCanada wants to build a $12-billion pipeline east. What are its chances?
The prime minister was speaking in Quebec City after making a local announcement with Mayor Regis Labeaume.
TransCanada Corp’s Energy East pipeline would deliver up to 1.1 million barrels per day to refineries and export terminals in Quebec in late 2017 and New Brunswick one year later.
READ MORE: TransCanada plans to go ahead with Energy East pipeline
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The project, which still faces regulatory hurdles, has the support of the Alberta and New Brunswick governments but it’s not clear yet whether Quebec has been won over.
“There are approval processes to look at environmental effects, the economic issues, to look at all those things and to come to independent evaluations,” Harper told a news conference in Quebec City where he announced the redevelopment of an historic path in the city.
“But obviously we think it’s a good idea in principle in terms of selling our energy products. We need to sell our energy products. It is, I think, a good idea that we find pan-Canadian solutions so that all of this country benefits from our energy products and that we enhance our own energy security.”
He was aware of Quebecers’ sensitivity concerning the transport of oil following the July 6 railway disaster in Lac-Megantic where fuel-laden tanker cars derailed and exploded, killing 47 people.
Harper insisted that any transportation projects in Canada will be subject to a rigorous independent analysis of environmental impact and safety issues.
“I think the reality of anybody who looks at the business is that the absolute safest way to tranport energy products is through pipelines,” Harper said. “That’s the safest way you can go.”
Critics have already vowed to fight Energy East, which they describe as unsafe and unlikely to deliver on job creation and energy security promises. That position has, in part, led to repeated delays for the Keystone XL pipeline in the United States.
Warren Mabee, a Queen’s University assistant professor specializing on energy issues, said Energy East is TransCanada’s easiest option.
He pointed out TransCanada (TSX:TRP) is optimistic about the environmental assessment and already has some infrastructure in place.
“I think the fact they are moving more aggressively on Energy East now reflects the fact that not only is Keystone going slowly, but also there’s a real, pent-up need for more pipeline capacity, particularly given the rail derailment in Lac-Megantic,” Mabee said.
“There’s better support for pipelines right now and I think they are trying to strike at that.”
With files from Julian Beltrame in Ottawa
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