Why Energy East matters: Senator Mockler
Tags
The following is an edited version of remarks delivered in the Senate Chamber
I was troubled by the recent comments by Montreal-area mayors, led by Mr. Denis Coderre, who have come out opposed to a nation-building project, the Energy East Pipeline.
There is no doubt in my mind that their concerns about environmental protection can be addressed in a robust, fulsome review by regulatory authorities. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise. I believe governments must always base decisions on evidence and analysis rather than on speculation and hearsay. To deny the project altogether is unreasonable and unacceptable, especially when our country is faced with a struggling and melting economy.
In recent decades, many Canadian refiners have closed. These include facilities in Montreal and, most recently, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It is a reality that most of these facilities were disadvantaged without pipeline access to crude sources.
Today the Irving Oil facility is the sole remaining refinery in the Maritimes and New England, where it provides thousands of good-paying, long-term jobs to New Brunswickers and Atlantic Canadians.
It is indisputable: Irving Oil has been safely operating marine terminals along the eastern seaboard since 1960. Over this time, more than 4 billion barrels of crude and petroleum products have been shipped through the Port of Saint John in our province.
Canadians depend, to some degree, on the services that are delivered by the products of oil: for example, personal mobility by bus, automobile, train and airplane; materials that are made from oil, such as plastics for containers, furniture, toys and so on; transportation of food and other items in our stores.
Transporting oil by rail poses more risk than moving it by pipeline. Those who refuse to use the safest way of moving oil — by pipeline — are party to the higher risks of moving it by rail or road and the greater environmental impact that could occur.
In the interests of the natural environment of New Brunswick and other provinces through which oil is transported, I stand firmly in favour of using the safest mode of transportation — the pipeline.
The Energy East Pipeline project is a must for our nation- building. It is a fact that Canadian crude will support the long- term competitive position of Eastern Canadian refineries and creating more jobs.
I ask the 10 Liberal MPs in the other house from my province stand up for New Brunswick and demonstrate that they are a force. Time is of the essence, and with this present government, we cannot put at risk the Energy East Pipeline. They must provide leadership for all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
New Brunswick’s motto, Spem Reduxit means “hope restored.” In order for our province to fulfill the promise of that motto, we need jobs and growth, so that hope may finally be restored for our people.
The following is an edited version of remarks delivered in the Senate Chamber
I was troubled by the recent comments by Montreal-area mayors, led by Mr. Denis Coderre, who have come out opposed to a nation-building project, the Energy East Pipeline.
There is no doubt in my mind that their concerns about environmental protection can be addressed in a robust, fulsome review by regulatory authorities. It would be irresponsible to do otherwise. I believe governments must always base decisions on evidence and analysis rather than on speculation and hearsay. To deny the project altogether is unreasonable and unacceptable, especially when our country is faced with a struggling and melting economy.
In recent decades, many Canadian refiners have closed. These include facilities in Montreal and, most recently, in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. It is a reality that most of these facilities were disadvantaged without pipeline access to crude sources.
Today the Irving Oil facility is the sole remaining refinery in the Maritimes and New England, where it provides thousands of good-paying, long-term jobs to New Brunswickers and Atlantic Canadians.
It is indisputable: Irving Oil has been safely operating marine terminals along the eastern seaboard since 1960. Over this time, more than 4 billion barrels of crude and petroleum products have been shipped through the Port of Saint John in our province.
Canadians depend, to some degree, on the services that are delivered by the products of oil: for example, personal mobility by bus, automobile, train and airplane; materials that are made from oil, such as plastics for containers, furniture, toys and so on; transportation of food and other items in our stores.
Transporting oil by rail poses more risk than moving it by pipeline. Those who refuse to use the safest way of moving oil — by pipeline — are party to the higher risks of moving it by rail or road and the greater environmental impact that could occur.
In the interests of the natural environment of New Brunswick and other provinces through which oil is transported, I stand firmly in favour of using the safest mode of transportation — the pipeline.
The Energy East Pipeline project is a must for our nation- building. It is a fact that Canadian crude will support the long- term competitive position of Eastern Canadian refineries and creating more jobs.
I ask the 10 Liberal MPs in the other house from my province stand up for New Brunswick and demonstrate that they are a force. Time is of the essence, and with this present government, we cannot put at risk the Energy East Pipeline. They must provide leadership for all Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
New Brunswick’s motto, Spem Reduxit means “hope restored.” In order for our province to fulfill the promise of that motto, we need jobs and growth, so that hope may finally be restored for our people.