Pipeline At Centre Of Protests Nears Completion

Pipeline At Centre Of Protests Nears Completion

Monday, August 31, 2009 at 14:45

An official with Enbridge says the company has worked hard to address concerns from Aboriginal groups that the Alberta Clipper pipeline project is not adequately benefitting their communities.

It has been almost a year since First Nations staged a protest near Regina against the project.

At the time, First Nations said they didn’t think they were receiving enough benefits for the pipeline, which crosses through their traditional territory.

The project is now 70 per cent complete, and the pipeline is expected to be in operation some time next year.

Spokeswoman Anne McIntosh says Enbridge is using 210 Aboriginal employees in its construction workforce.

McIntosh says they should finish construction of the pipe, which will be laid underground, by late October.

The pipeline will send 450,000 barrels of oil a day from northern Alberta to the United States, crossing through southern Saskatchewan into Manitoba along a path from the Kerrobert area to the Carlyle district.