Area politicians are thrilled to hear the proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor route connects to Sarnia-Lambton.
On Monday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced the local refining sector as the ending port of a historic new national energy project, that would see a 3,300 kilometre crude oil pipeline stretch between this region and Alberta.
In a news release, Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey said he fully supports the vision.
"Connecting Alberta’s vast energy resources to the Sarnia-Lambton petrochemical hub through a new, fully Canadian pipeline is the perfect example of a nation-building project that can power our collective economic growth for generations to come. I look forward to the completion of the feasibility study later this year and will do everything in my power to support and advance this vision for the Northern Shield Energy Corridor," Bailey said.
St. Clair Township Mayor Jeff Agar told Sarnia News Today he's very excited.
"I got a call from the minister's office [Sunday] night, saying what was going on, and could hardly sleep. I've been worried about our refineries," Agar confessed. "It's great for the whole area. I'm even looking down the road. I can see it creating thousands of jobs here."
He commended the premiers for moving the plans forward.
"There's all kinds of work that could be on the horizon and this only enhances it and helps it," he said.
Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley called the announcement "a banner day for Sarnia-Lambton, Canada's eastern energy hub."
"A year ago when the premier [Doug Ford] was at Sarnia City Hall and we discussed this, he came out at that time saying, 'if there is a pipeline, a Canadian pipeline that would deal with the issues we're having with the Americans, it would have an endpoint in Sarnia.' So, today is ratification of that by the Alberta government and the Ontario government."
While admitting there's a lot more work to be done, Bradley agreed it's a very positive step for the local and national economy.
"Gaining energy independence and security, creating jobs and new markets... that's a pretty good combination of things," Bradley said.
He said the pipeline should have been built decades ago to protect Canada's energy security and create jobs.
"It is a strong signal through local industry that we can be independent and I hope relations do repair, to some degree, with the new administration in the U.S. and it also -- at least in the long term -- gives us an alternative to Line 5 if we should ever lose that court battle in the U.S.," Bradley added.
He hopes the consultations and environmental issues are dealt with quickly to see the project move forward in a record amount of time.
The province estimates the corridor would move an estimated 500,000 barrels of oil per day for domestic use and export markets, with the potential of expanding up to 800,000 barrels per day.
