Local groups join chorus of opposition to Energy East Pipeline

No shortage of groups recently announcing their opposition to the Trans Canada Energy East Pipeline proposal.

In fact, over 60 of them signed a letter calling on the National Energy Board to shut down the application until the federal regulatory process is fixed.

Two of those groups are local: Northwatch and Stop Energy East North Bay.

Northwatch spokesperson Brennain Lloyd says there’s plenty of concern in Northern Ontario.

As for North Bay, she says the concern from their members about the impact, if this project goes ahead, is on Lake Nipissing and especially Trout Lake.

She says people are very concerned about Trout Lake because it is North Bay’s source of drinking water.

Lloyd says a spill would be a very high level of concern.

Overall, she says Northwatch is opposed to the project for 3 reasons: it’ s a high risk project, it is an enabler for the continued expansion of the Tarsands and it will put a carbon footprint in place, which isn’t good for the environment.

Lloyd says this pipeline will fail because it has failed before as a natural gas pipeline and oil lines don’t have a good recent record of safety.

Written by: bob.coles@northbayradio.rogers.com