A senate committee looking into ways to transport western crude oil to Quebec convened in Montreal Monday for hearings – and while they heard from several groups, environmental bodies weren't among them.

“We've been asked to look at this to determine what is the best way to proceed,” explained Nova Scotia Liberal Senator Terry Mercer on the senate committee meetings.

The Shipping Federation of Canada and Heavy Machine Owners Association of Quebec, who were both present, are both in favour of a pipeline.

“It is going to create 3000 jobs in Quebec during the nine years of plan and construction of the project,” said Yvan Grenier of the Heavy Machine Owners Association of Quebec.

Noticeably absent, though, were critics such as Quebec's Equiterre, which chose to submit a written proposal instead.

“The question is very biased. They're saying, ‘How do we get the oil to the coast?’ is basically the question that they're asking,” said Sydney Ribaux of Equiterre, adding that there has already been plenty of concern expressed from many Quebec sectors about the Energy East pipeline project.

“They're discouraged,” said Ribaux. “We feel like we've been saying over and over again the same thing and we don’t feel like we're being heard.”

Quebec Conservative Senator Larry Smith said it’s been difficult to reach an agreement.

“That's the real challenge,” he said. “Bringing everyone into the tent and building a consensus.”

In August, the National Energy Board was forced to suspend its Montreal hearings into TransCanada's pipeline project after protesters disrupted hearings and Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre walked out.

“People are afraid of the risks and don't see the benefits,” said Michel Leblanc, president of the Montreal Board of Trade.

Despite that, Leblanc told the senate hearing Monday that the project can be positive – but only if TransCanada invests some of its profits into clean energy startups.

Leblanc said he’s been telling them that for four years.

“If the oil industry don't want anything to change and stay the way they are, well I suspect they won't get the pipelines they want,” he said.