Thank you very much.
Good afternoon, Chair, vice-chairs and committee members. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to present today.
I am pleased to be here as Ontario's associate minister of energy to speak about the importance of the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline to the people of our province, as well as our businesses and industries, and to convey just how vital this piece of energy infrastructure is to the economic, environmental and energy security of not only Ontario but also our neighbours in Quebec, Alberta and the entire Great Lakes region. Pipelines are essential to our ability to move energy from where it is produced to where it is consumed. They help pay for vital services that we depend on, such as health care and education. They create good jobs that support families and communities.
Ontario supports the development of pipelines in our province and across Canada. In particular, Ontario supports the continued safe and responsible operation of Enbridge Line 5. We were profoundly disappointed with the Governor of Michigan's decision to shut down the line in the Straits of Mackinac. This light crude oil and natural gas liquids pipeline, with a capacity of 540,000 barrels per day, has operated safely since 1953. It is a critical piece of infrastructure for Ontario's refining and petrochemical sectors, essential to businesses and communities on both sides of the border. Ontario's four refineries ensure that Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, Ohio and the entire Great Lakes region are well supplied with essential products like home heating fuels, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Line 5 also supplies natural gas liquids to a Sarnia facility that processes them into propane.
Simply put, Line 5 is critical to our economic, environmental and energy security. Shutting it down would jeopardize Ontario's energy supply, an energy supply that our people rely on daily. Without Line 5, Ontario, Quebec, Michigan, Ohio and the entire Great Lakes region would face a 45% reduction in the pipeline supply of petroleum. Enbridge estimates a shortage of 14.7 million U.S. gallons a day of gasoline, diesel and jet fuel. Our country's largest airport hub, Pearson international airport, relies on jet fuel from refineries supplied by Line 5.
Propane supply to Ontario and Michigan could be drastically reduced, causing shortages of an important heating source for large portions of rural Ontario. The implications of a Line 5 shutdown would be dramatic, impacting the fuel needs of the agricultural sector, construction, manufacturing and many other industries.
Shutting down Line 5 would also have a devastating impact on jobs in Ontario, specifically in Sarnia and the surrounding region. Sarnia-Lambton is a major hub for fuel refineries and home to a highly specialized, highly skilled workforce. Without Line 5, an estimated 4,900 direct jobs and up to 23,000 more jobs in supporting industries would be at risk. That represents one third of all jobs in the area.
Moreover, it is important to remember that pipelines are the safest way to transport essential fuels across ecologically sensitive areas like the Great Lakes. Shutting down Line 5 would increase transport by rail, marine and truck, creating additional emissions and congestion, as well as vastly increase costs for business and consumers alike. The reality is that we need Line 5, especially as our province and country recover from the devastating economic impacts of COVID-19.
That's why our government is advocating to keep Line 5 operating and why we are working with all levels of government on a united team Canada approach to resolving this issue. Premier Doug Ford has met with Governor Whitmer, after writing to her previously, to underscore Ontario's concerns about the impact of losing Line 5. In February the Minister of Energy, Northern Development and Mines, Greg Rickford, and I, along with Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey, wrote to the federal natural resources minister to express our concerns and to encourage him to advocate for the continued operation of Line 5 with the new U.S. administration.
Last month the Ontario legislature held a take-note debate on Line 5 and passed a motion in support of the continued operation of Line 5, with the support of both the government and the official opposition. Ontario government officials continue to work with their colleagues at Natural Resources Canada and the energy ministries in Quebec, Alberta and Saskatchewan to ensure that we are all aligned on the critical importance of Line 5 to Canada's fuel supply and economy.
I understand that federal government officials have been reaching out to their U.S. counterparts. We appreciate that federal ministers have also made supportive statements about Line 5 to the U.S. administration. While we continue to encourage Michigan and Enbridge to use the ongoing mediation process to settle their dispute, we would also urge the federal government to keep all options on the table. This could include using the provisions of the 1977 treaty between Canada and the U.S. intended to protect cross-border pipelines from regional, state or local authorities interfering with or interrupting an existing pipeline network.
It's also important that the federal government work with the provinces to participate in the current U.S. federal court proceedings to ensure that Canada's interests are represented.
This could include filing an amicus brief in court expressing the government’s support for keeping the pipeline in operation.
Ontario looks forward to continuing to work with the federal government, Enbridge and Michigan to keep the pipeline operating in accordance with the highest health and safety standards. It is our sincere hope that this issue will be resolved positively and that we'll be able to focus our efforts on economic recovery.
Thank you for your time today and for your efforts to find a solution to this issue. I look forward to any questions you may have.