News Release

SAINT JOHN (GNB) – Premier Brian Gallant reiterated his support for the Energy East Pipeline while speaking in Saint John today.

Thanks to TransCanada, large sections of oil pipe have been brought into the port city which will be used in training pipeline construction workers in New Brunswick.

“Our number one priority is job creation,” said Gallant. “We need to focus on creating jobs but also on giving people the skills to do those jobs. This pipe will do just that as it will be utilized to train hundreds of New Brunswick workers on the type of material used on the Energy East. I want to thank TransCanada Corp. and the Labourers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 900 for partnering on this important training opportunity to move New Brunswick forward.”

Gallant joined François Poirier, president of the Energy East Pipeline Project for TransCanada Corp., and union representatives in unveiling the pipe at the LiUNA Centre Local 900.

TransCanada donated the pipe and covered the transportation costs for bringing it from Saskatoon, while LiUNA will provide the training for workers.

“The donation is part of a national partnership between TransCanada and union organizations like LiUNA, and is the second time we have made a donation of pipe sections for training in New Brunswick,” said Poirier. “We are proud of this collaboration that enables skilled professionals working on pipe handling, welding or pipeline coating to obtain the advanced training they require to work in the Canadian pipeline construction industry.”

“This donation of oil pipe by TransCanada will allow us to provide workers with hands-on training that will ensure they are well-prepared to work on the Energy East Pipeline in New Brunswick,” said France Godbout, training director for LiUNA Local 900. “We receive calls regularly from workers who are looking to come back home from Alberta and elsewhere and we are hopeful that this project will provide many families with that opportunity.”

As part of the project, TransCanada will construct 500 kilometers of pipeline in New Brunswick from the Quebec Border to the Irving Canaport facility, which is located at the entrance to Saint John Harbour.

The pipeline is expected to create approximately 2,300 direct and indirect jobs in New Brunswick over the span of the project.

The $12 billion dollar, nation-wide pipeline will provide up to 1.1 million barrels of crude oil per day to Eastern Canada, connecting western resources in Alberta and Saskatchewan with eastern energy needs.

TransCanada Corporation is currently going through the regulatory approval process with the National Energy Board. Once this process is complete, TransCanada expects to begin construction in 2016 with the first oil deliveries to arrive in New Brunswick in 2018.