Journal Staff
All three levels of government are working together on a campaign to save the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline.
More than 10,000 people signed a petition calling for Ottawa to lobby Washington to intervene and stop Michigan from acting on it threats to shut the pipeline down.
Initiated by Scott Archer of UA Local 663 and presented in the House of Commons by MP Marilyn Gladu, the petition states that if Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer revokes pipeline easements through the Straights of Mackinac the economic impact would be “overwhelming and catastrophic.
“Time is of the essence,” said Gladu, who before entering politics worked in Sarnia’s Chemical Valley.
Line 5 carries oil and natural gas liquids from Edmonton to Sarnia and supplies 45% of Ontario’s energy needs and 55% of Michigan’s propane.
Whitmer says this 58-year-old pipeline is an environment risk to the Great Lakes and has given Enbridge until May to shut it down or revoke the permits.
Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey appeared before a joint committee of the Michigan Senate on March 16 to discuss the issue.
“There is no overstating the immediate impacts of shutting down Line 5 on each and every one of us, on both sides of the border,” Bailey told the virtual meeting of Michigan lawmakers.
“Line 5 is absolutely critical to our economic, environmental and energy security, especially as we work to recover from the effects of this pandemic.”
Joining Bailey were Joe Mancinelli, International Vice President of the Laborers’ International Union of North America, and Rocco Rossi, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce.
Meanwhile, Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley has been lobbying senior governments on both sides of the border.
On Tuesday, Bradley is scheduled to appear remotely as part of a panel discussion before the House of Common international relations committee in Ottawa.