TransCanada chief executive Russ Girling is confident he can win Quebec’s support for the controversial Energy East Pipeline. In an interview on BNN, Girling said he thinks taking an on-the-ground approach in Quebec will ultimately garner provincial acceptance.

“Quebec is no different than anywhere else: these communities have concerns about the impact of the construction and the ongoing operation of this pipeline in their backyard,” he said. “We’ve had several thousand meetings already with thousands and thousands of impacted people, landowners, aboriginal communities, and that work will continue as we bring to them what the pipeline is all about.”

Girling said TransCanada is well-versed in working with concerned parties, given its network stretches all over North America.

“We have some 50 or 60-thousand landowners that we work with on a daily basis at TransCanada – this isn’t new for us,” he said. “It’s sitting across the table with folks, understanding what their concerns are and making sure we take those to heart as we design and build our pipeline.”

Girling said the company’s 60-year experience with its natural gas network in Quebec should prove invaluable in reaching an understanding with the province and its aboriginal community.

“We traverse a number of aboriginal communities, and we work with them on a very respectful and long-term basis. We’ll bring that knowledge and capability to the table,” he said. “What they want to ensure first is that it can be done safely, and then the question turns to what input do they have on both the construction and the operations, and the ongoing benefit to their communities.”

“It’s hard work for both sides, but we’ll get there.”