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The project would include existing TransCanada pipeline as far east as Montreal, plus new pipeline to be constructed through Quebec.

Coderre says the pipeline is worth about $2 million a year in economic benefits to the Montreal area, while a major oil spill cleanup could cost between $1 billion and $10 billion.

Laval and Terrebonne, two of the largest members of the MMC, had already said in September they oppose TransCanada’s planned $15.7-billion pipeline, which would transport crude from the Alberta oilsands to a terminal in New Brunswick before exporting it to overseas customers. Marc Demers, mayor of Quebec’s third-largest city, said in September that Laval “unequivocally opposes the pipeline because of environmental concerns, citizen safety and the threat of spills in the island-city’s waterways.”



TransCanada has said it understands community’s concerns, but argues pipelines remain the safest means of transporting a commodity on which the world still depends.

It cites a 2013 report by the Fraser Institute that found pipelines were 4.5 times safer than using trains to transport oil. Blocking a pipeline, TransCanada argues, will result in more oil transported to Canada by train.

In November, TransCanada announced it was abandoning all plans to build an export terminal in Quebec for the Energy East pipeline. In April it had abandoned its plans to build a terminal in Cacouna over concerns over the beluga whale habitat, but it had continued to scout other possible locations along the St. Lawrence River.