Greater Montreal mayors come out against TransCanada’s Energy East pipeline

MONTREAL – Mayors from the greater Montreal area have come out against TransCanada’s proposed Energy East pipeline.

The Montreal Metropolitan Community, which represents 82 jurisdictions, says it is opposed to the project.

Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, the current president, told a news conference today the organization has determined the environmental risks far outweigh any economic benefits for the region.

The proposed pipeline would take Alberta crude as far east as an Irving Oil refinery in Saint John, N.B.

The project would include existing TransCanada pipeline as far east as Montreal, plus new pipeline to be constructed through Quebec.

Coderre says the pipeline is worth about $2 million a year in economic benefits to the Montreal area, while a major oil spill cleanup could cost between $1 billion and $10 billion.

Environmental consultations were held across the territory last September and October and Coderre says the majority of the 140 groups that submitted briefs were opposed to the project.