The Energy East Pipeline

I originally wrote this just over a year ago and submitted to the Thunder Bay Chronicle Journal. It was not published. Even so the opinions given and their reasons are still valid!

The fact there is any opposition to the Energy East pipeline is mind boggling! North America is criss-crossed by a multitude of pipelines, both natural gas and oil, primarily in the US or from Canada to the US. Some, such as the Trans-Alaska oil pipeline traverse some of the most challenging landscapes possible. Spills of any sort are extremely rare.

Trans Canada Pipelines has proposed to convert an existing gas pipe line to one that would transport oil. So they are proposing taking a structure designed for carrying high pressure gas to oil, a substance that would apply much less strain to the pipe.

The petroleum industry is one of the key components of the Canadian economy with positive economic effects that extend well past the boundaries of the Prairie Provinces that are our primary producers. One issue of late is that the existing limited pipeline infrastructure results in a lack of marketing opportunities as the vast majority connect only to the US. Thus we are at the economic mercy of the US and it’s, at times such as now, quixotic politics.

Instead of opening up access to other world markets we do our best to shoot ourselves in the foot by supporting those who lobby against either building new pipelines to either coast. Or, in the case of the Energy East proposal, converting an existing yet under used asset so it will benefit the nation. Unfortunately too many, including Ontario Premier Katherine Wynn, are so narrow mined and self-serving they just can’t see that this type of economic development has a wide ranging impact right across the country.

We need to think of ourselves as one country and that anything that can benefit one part will have a cascade effect right across our nation. But only if we work together!