New Brunswick residents will be headed to the polls a year from now and some say the west-east pipeline will play a major role in provincial politics over the next year and in the next election campaign.
In a province mired in double-digit unemployment, New Brunswick construction workers say the pipeline is hope for future jobs.
“I can’t see it but helping the economy of Atlantic Canada, not just New Brunswick, but Nova Scotia and P.E.I.,” says construction worker Dave McLeod.
On Wednesday, TransCanada will release new figures showing the economic impact of the project on the Maritimes and expectations are high.
“At our union meetings and to our members, we’re building capacity right now to build this project,” says Andrew Dawson of the Atlantic Regional Trades Council.
“We’re telling our folks, you may have to leave the province in the next couple of months, but soon, there’s going to be three, or four, or five years of work right here in New Brunswick building this project.”
Dawson believes the political support the project is receiving in New Brunswick is encouraging TransCanada to move ahead with the Energy East Pipeline project.
It is widely expected the pipeline project will play a major role in Premier David Alward’s re-election campaign but some critics are already saying the premier is putting all his eggs in one basket.
The Liberal Opposition suggests the government has become preoccupied with the pipeline.
“It’s great that we have this potential and we have this momentum behind the Energy East Pipeline, but we should have a premier that is spending his time ensuring that we have a plan to grow the economy, create jobs and tackle unemployment right now,” says New Brunswick Liberal Leader Brian Gallant.
“It’s important to diversify in case the project doesn’t happen, or in case it takes longer than expected.”
Monday, officials with TransCanada toured the Irving Refinery and Canaport – the site of the proposed export terminal - and are set to meet with Alward and local business and labour groups in Fredericton Monday evening.
TransCanada will once again take its case public Tuesday, with an open house in the town of Hampton - the first of three scheduled for this week.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Mike Cameron
