THUNDER BAY -- A controversial proposed pipeline will flow to council Monday night as Coun. Paul Pugh is asking that the city oppose the project.
The Energy East pipeline would see bitumen flow from Alberta to refineries in Quebec and New Brunswick. While the pipeline wouldn't go directly through Thunder Bay, it would flow North of the city and could impact water systems in the area. Pugh wants council to sign a letter rejecting the project over safety and environmental concerns.
"The conversion of an existing natural gas pipeline includes a high risk for spillage, dangerous toxic products to be carried into the water supply that may affect the City of Thunder Bay and the region along with the poor safety record of the company proposing this conversion," Pugh writes in a memo to council.
"There is no evidence to suggest at this time that the operation of this pipeline will reduce the amount of oil to be transported by rail and it is estimated that associated greenhouse gas emissions will increase and contribute to global climate change."
But proponents of the project, in town recently to speak with councillors, said there would be plenty of wats to mitigate concerns and that it will all come out during its 18-month process with a thorough 38,000 pages worth of documents heading to the National Energy Board.
Spokesman Stefan Baranski said based on feedback from more than 40 open houses in Ontario so far, the project has already seen changes such as where shutoff safety valves should be located around waterway.
"From our perspective it's going to help us build a better project," he said.
Paul Berger, a member of Citizens United for a Sustainable Planet and organizer of a rally being held outside of city hall Monday, said there's a lot of misinformation out there. The fact remains that diluted bitumen could end up in places like the Nipigon River and eventually into Lake Superior.
He said while some councillors understand that, others are still on the fence whether to oppose the project.
"It's really those people that we really think need a strong message," he said.
Berger is hoping to see at least 100 people outside city hall Monday night.
