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TransCanada drops contentious clause

The clause in that controversial contract that Mattawa signed with TransCanada has been deleted, with a new one being sent to the community by early next week. The company had donated $30,000 to the community to help buy a new rescue truck.

The clause in that controversial contract that Mattawa  signed with TransCanada has been deleted, with a new one being sent to the community by early next week. 

The company had donated $30,000 to the community to help buy a new rescue truck.

Part of the contract stated the town could not comment on the business affairs of TransCanada.

"We said from the beginning we were willing to take it out," said TransCanada spokesman Davis Sheremata.

"We have no problem doing it. It's never been our intention to prevent the people of Mattawa from bringing their issues and concerns forward," he explained.

"If the people of Mattawa, the Mayor or council have concerns they must bring the issues forward. We need to hear it."

The activist group Avaaz condemned the contract, and organized an on-line petition demanding the clause be removed.

Sheila Flemmer, Senior Community Partnership Advisor, Canada, at TransCanada, responded "This is why we are frustrated when we see some of our community investments get picked on by professional activists. Instead of seeing a donation of $30,000 to the Town of Mattawa, Ontario, for what it is: a contribution to help equip a municipality near TransCanada’s operations (for nearly six decades) with a much-needed fire truck to respond rescue calls; they claim that a confidentiality clause included in the contract formalizing the two-year-old donation is trying to “silence” any potential opposition to the proposed Energy East Pipeline Project that will run nearby."

"Although questions about the phrasing of this clause are legitimate – the language used was general in nature, and vague – both TransCanada and the Mayor of Mattawa have been clear that nothing in this agreement prevents them from providing public comments on our operations or potential projects."

The issue proved a frustrating one for Mattawa Mayor Dean Backer. He told council he has received calls threatening him and his family 24/7.

Sheremata supported Backer.

"What people don’t often see or realize is the kind of pressure that some communities and non-profit groups come under by professional opponents to make statements that support their particular point of view. These groups try to block jobs, pipelines, modern infrastructure and they will use whatever they can to try and suggest motives that aren’t there. We wish these groups were held to the same standards of disclosure and providing factual information to the public that we are."

An Avaaz spokesman would not comment on the telephone attacks on Backer saying "it's not our focus'.