Energy East Supporters Signing Giant Pipe in Saint John
SAINT JOHN – If you happen to be in uptown Saint John Monday, don’t be alarmed by the giant pipe outside the Trade and Convention Centre.
The giant pipe, brought in by Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA), is part of the union’s show of support for the project. Just inside the Trade and Convention Centre the National Energy Board is hosting hearings which will help determine whether or not Energy East should proceed.
LiUNA and other associated groups were also hosting a BBQ for pipeline supports outside.
“We’ve been participating in all of the hearings that TransCanada has had, whether they are just community meetings or something like this,” says Gary Ritchie, president of the New Brunswick Building Trades Union, who helped organize the outdoor event.
Though there didn’t seem to be any visible Energy East opposition outside the venue, inside has been slightly different story. The hearings began Monday morning with environmental groups quizzing TransCanada executives on their plans in the event of a spill along the pipeline route.
The groups are among a huge list of organizations, businesses and individuals slated to speak for or against the project as intervenors during the hearings, which will continue across the proposed pipeline route until December.