'Build that pipe': Protesters rally outside Sohi's speech to Edmonton chamber

Shouting "Pipelines now" and "Build that pipe," protesters rallied outside a downtown building Friday wherefederal Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohiwas speakingto the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce.

Organized by a group called Rally 4 Resources, the protest supportedpipeline development to get Canadian energy products to markets. The group also opposes Bill C-69,which would overhaul how energy projects are approved.

Sonia Heer, a steamfitter, said pipelines movingCanadian oil to markets outside the United States are desperately needed.

"The oil and gas industry affects us all directly or indirectly," said Heer, who has worked in the oil and gas industry for 10 years. "We do need the oil and gas pipelines to go through. It would make Canada self-sufficient in terms of energy.

"Right now we only have one customer,which [is] down south. They are buying our oil and selling it back to us, refined, which makes no business sense or economic sense."

Pro-pipeline protest in downtown Edmonton

6 years ago

Duration 0:37

About 50 protesters gathered and chanted outside of the building where Amarjeet Sohi was speaking to the Chamber of Commerce.

Heer said the federal government shouldstart building pipelines after getting over existing hurdles such as negotiations with Indigenous communities along pipeline routes.

Earlier, onCBCRadio's Edmonton AM, Sohi was asked if the federal government is going to help Alberta in its bidto buy rail cars to ship more Alberta oil to market.

He said the long-term solution is to increase pipeline capacity to expand beyond the U.S. market.

Sohi represents the riding of Edmonton Mill Woods.

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