Canadian News Pipeline
Canadian News Pipeline Training on the Upswing in Canada Local 793 invites contractors and media to live demonstration IUOE LOCAL 793 held a media event at its training campus in Morrisburg, Ont. on Sept. 29 to officially launch a new pipeline training program. Courses are being held at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario (OETIO). Mike Gallagher, an IUOE Vice President and business manager of Local 793, said the union has made a considerable investment in the program and shown commitment to the industry. “We are really showing a commitment to our industry,” he said. “I am very, very proud of what we’ve done here.” Gallagher said the project would employ more than 3,000 Operating Engineers across the country “so it shows the value to the Canadian economy that this job will bring.” He noted that pipelines are the safest way to move oil and it would be foolish not to go ahead with it, as there are refineries already built in the east that could handle the oil. He encouraged politicians of all stripes to take a look at the economic benefits that the pipeline would bring to Canada. “It will bring good jobs across the country. We all need to get behind it and build it with Canadian workers.” IUOE Canadian regional director Lionel Railton said Local 793 and the OETIO have shown their commitment to the industry with their investment in the training program. Pipelines like Energy East are “nation-building projects” and the Operating Engineers are ready and willing to build them, so “let’s get it done,” he said in his remarks. John Soini, Energy East project director at TransCanada Pipe Lines, said that he was “extremely impressed” with the OETIO and the training program. He said the program and OETIO campus will enable workers to get the skills needed to meet the demand for planned pipeline projects. He also noted that TransCanada is committed to using the skilled trades and 76 per cent of pipeline work done by the company across Canada has been given to unionized companies. “I am pleased that our company has a long history of working with the building trades,” he said. Soini thanked the OETIO for investing in the skills training of pipeline workers. “Having Operating Engineers involved in Energy East will make sure this pipeline gets built right.” [left] John Soini, Energy East project director at TransCanada Pipe Lines, with Local 793 business manager Mike Gallagher at a media event to launch a pipeline training program at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in Morrisburg. [below] Sidebooms in operation at the pipeline training course at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in Morrisburg. [photos & article] Grant Cameron/Local 793 The local purchased two John Deere 850 side booms at a cost of .35 million and two used D6 dozers for 3,000 to be used in the three-week pipeline training courses. The union is also putting million into renovations of the OETIO building. The OETIO plans to hold eight courses a year in Morrisburg. The media event was held to showcase the program and give contractors an opportunity to view field training in progress at the OETIO. Contractors were shown a pipeline training video and were taken on a tour of the site. In his remarks, Gallagher noted that there will be a demand for more pipeline operators if the Energy East project gets the green light. The project would transport about 1.1 million barrels of oil per day from Alberta and Saskatchewan to refineries and port terminals in eastern Canada. The pipeline would run 4,600 kilometres and pass through Ontario. 20 INTERNATIONAL OPERATING ENGINEER FALL 2015 21
