(OTTAWA) - As Parliament debates a Conservative motion to support the building of the Energy East pipeline, the Green Party wishes to underscore the position it has consistently taken regarding pipelines with the purpose of exporting unrefined bitumen. "We are the only party to have consistently opposed any and all pipeline projects being proposed for the purpose of exporting unrefined raw bitumen," said Elizabeth May, M.P. for Saanich-Gulf Islands and Leader of the Green Party of Canada. "It has been a shock to see the abuse piled on Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, along with over 80 mayors from the Montreal region, for standing up for their communities and opposing Energy East."
"There is no 'national unity' issue here. Canadians have a right to know their waterways are safe from the threat of diluted bitumen spills – no matter where they live. When Mayor Coderre speaks up for Montreal in opposing Energy East, he stands with Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, Victoria Mayor Lisa Helps and Burnaby Mayor Derek Corrigan among others, opposing Kinder Morgan. Quebecers have just as much a right to oppose risky projects as British Columbians," said Ms. May.
The Energy East pipeline proposal, although frequently touted as a project geared to domestic refining and supply is overwhelmingly focused on export of raw bitumen. While it is true that the proposed pipeline will also carry some synthetic light crude and light bakken crude headed for refineries, nearly three quarters of what will be shipped in the Energy East pipeline will not be refined in Canada, but will be shipped off-shore.
"Almost 75% of the Energy East pipeline contents is for export (China, Europe, US) and not for eastern Canadian refineries," said Daniel Green, Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Canada. "A spill of diluted bitumen (oil sands + liquid petroleum distillates), synthetic crude oil or light bakken crude oil, all to be transported by this pipeline, will cause unprecedented environmental damage, effects on public
health and cost tens of millions to clean-up."
"No matter how often the false claim that the Energy East pipeline will bring Alberta oil sands raw bitumen to be refined in Eastern Canada, the reality is that there is no refinery in Eastern Canada with the technology to process raw bitumen," said Elizabeth May.
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For additional information or to arrange an interview, contact:
Debra Eindiguer
Debra.eindiguer@greenparty.ca
t: (613) 240-8921