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Mattawa council removes controversial clause

Mattawa town council is forced to answer tough questions regarding an agreement made with Trans Canada Pipelines at its regular council meeting on Monday.

Mattawa town council is forced to answer tough questions regarding an agreement made with Trans Canada Pipelines at its regular council meeting on Monday. PHOTO by: Jazz Mathon

When news broke that Mattawa was receiving a donation from Trans Canada Pipelines at a time when a proposed pipeline could be constructed through the community, it garnered a lot of interest.

What made the situation more explosive was the wording of that agreement, “The Town of Mattawa will not publicly comment on TransCanada’s operations or business projects.”

During its regular council meeting on Monday, mayor Dean Backer was eager to settle the matter, by announcing that clause will be removed, and reaffirming there was no gag order in exchange for money.

 “In dialogue with Trans Canada and one of their directors, they have no problems, they just thought it was an agreement that would protect the municipality at the end of the day,” said Backer after the meeting.

Council will still receive a $30,000 donation from TransCanada Pipelines to help buy a rescue truck. An arrangement, according to council, that had been in the works for the past two years, and not connected with the proposed East Energy pipeline.  

“We did nothing wrong, unfortunately it was leaked wrong and we are going to deal with it,” adds Backer.

View the full council report here http://mattawa.ca/uploads/docs/Council%20Agendas/2014%20Council%20Agendas%20and%20Minutes/June%2023rd%20Meeting%20Agenda.pdf

In a standing room only council chamber, things got a little heated when questions were opened to the floor. First a petition with over 30,000 signatures was given to council by AVAAZ.ORG, an organization concerned that the town’s silence is being bought by Trans Canada. It wanted the clause removed, which council agreed it would. However spokesperson Nicole Pelletier was still not satisfied.

“It’s going to affect public perception when a corporation signs a contract with a municipality and how to market the pipeline and their image.”

See petition here:https://secure.avaaz.org/en/dont_silence_mattawa_e/?bNiVVfb&v=42364

When others began to question council’s stance on the pipeline, some councilor shot back, asking if they were from Mattawa. When it was discovered they were from North Bay, they were asked to bring their concerns to their local council. The mayor was more diplomatic when asked if he was bothered by non residents lecturing Mattawa council on its decision making.

 “The bigger picture is that we all care about the environment and we will continue that dialogue with our neighbouring municipalities and you know what, I am happy that people are more conscious of that fact.”

Brenda Quenneville made the trip from North Bay to speak out against the agreement. Her biggest concern is that money is being exchanged between a very powerful oil company and a not so powerful municipality.

“This is a very powerful organization that wants something from our environment in return, so it’s not just a one way relationship, this is not an act of philanthropy, this is very much something that is power laden.”

What is bothering the mayor are the threats he is receiving because of this issue. “What I don’t support is when radical environmentalists call my house in all hours of the night and threaten me and my family, that’s wrong. We live in a democracy, I can understand they worry about the environment and worried about the bigger picture, but when they do blatant threats to myself and my family, it’s totally wrong.”

Backer says Trans Canada has been part of the municipality for 35 years and that town council and other local organizations have signed agreements with corporations in the past.  

“We’re a small municipality, that’s going to do our own due diligence and hopefully at the end of the day, we all make the right decision.”