Gilles Duceppe refuses to believe Energy East oil will be refined in Montreal

Gilles Duceppe went on attack on CBC Montreal's Daybreak this week, accusingTransCanadaof "lying" about plans to bring oilto Montreal refineries as part of its Energy East pipeline.

The proposedproject would see TransCanada ship 1.1million barrels of oil per day from Alberta to New Brunswick, passing through several municipalities in Quebec.

• DAYBREAK:Gilles Duceppe talks niqabs, Energy East and Quebec
• Quebec premier sees little value in proposed oil pipeline

TransCanadasaysthe pipelinewould bring oilto refineries in Montreal and Lvis, Que., as well as Saint John, N.B.

But Duceppe told Daybreak host Mike Finnerty on Tuesdaythe oil won't be refined in Quebec.

"No not at all, you're wrong on that,"Duceppesaid.

Here's a transcript of what followed:

Mike Finnerty:Well, we just called TransCanada, and they said 'yes.'

Gilles Duceppe: No. Not at all.

MF: We just called TransCanada in the last minute.

GD: Maybe they are lying, period...That oil, not TransCanada with the Energy East, not at all. It won't be refined.

MF: Well, Tim Duboyce, spokesperson forTransCanada, just told us.

GD: Then Tim Duboyce is lying, period.

MF:If it did, would that change your mind?

GD: It doesn't at all. It doesn't at all. It doesn't at all.

MF: If it did would that change your position?

GD: No 'if it did.' It doesn't at all.

Duceppesaid that, like the Northern Gateway pipeline in British Columbia, the pipeline won't create any permanent jobs in the province and would have "no benefits for Quebec."

Later in the show,TransCanada spokesman Tim Duboyce responded to Duceppe's comments, saying the Energy East proposal is "black and white, very clear."

"We have an interconnection agreement with Suncorin East End Montreal, with Valero in Levis across from Quebec City, and with Irving Oil in SaintJohn, New Brunswick," he said.

"The fact of the matter is we have these agreements in place and that is a key component to the reason for building Energy East."

In an emailedstatement,Suncor Energy said it has a contractwith "TransCanadaon the proposed Energy East project."

"We'd ship on that line either to our Montreal refinery, or to any other refinery (including in Quebec) and delivery points connected to Energy East," spokewomanSnehSeetal said.

Premier PhilippeCouillardhas also raised questions about the benefit of the pipeline, sayingit may just be a"transit place"foroilsandscrude makingits way to the East Coast.