TORONTO — Ontario's concerns about the proposed Energy East pipeline narrowed considerably following a meeting today between Premiers Kathleen Wynne and Jim Prentice of Alberta.
Ontario and Quebec set out seven principles for the $12-billion pipeline project, which would carry western crude to refineries in eastern Canada, the most notable relating to the potential impact on the environment.
But Wynne says central Canada's concerns about Energy East's contribution to climate change are limited to greenhouse gas emissions in Ontario and Quebec from the pipeline project itself.
She says the seven principles do not extend to so-called upstream emissions resulting from getting the crude out of the ground, refining and burning it.
Wynne insists it's not a change in position, but she couldn't say exactly what greenhouse gas emissions would be generated by the pipeline project that have her concerned.
Prentice says he's convinced the National Energy Board will deal with all of the principles raised by Ontario and Quebec, adding he's not surprised they want to have input into the approval process for Energy East.
The Alberta premier met Tuesday with Quebec's Philippe Couillard and Sunday with British Columbia Premier Christy Clark to talk about the pipeline, which he calls an important nation-building project.
"It is a project that links together energy production in western Canada through to both the export and consumption of that from provinces in Atlantic Canada," said Prentice. "I believe that we can work together."
