Notley pushes for progress in B.C. pipeline dispute

Notley said yesterday that she doesn’t want to escalate the feud, but that B.C.’s actions on the Trans Mountain pipeline are illegal and must be reversed.

“We do not seek an escalation, but if B.C. continues to insist that they have rights to attack Alberta’s economy that they don’t have, we will have no choice (but) to respond,” said Notley.

Two weeks ago, B.C. Premier John Horgan’s government announced that it was looking at restricting expanded flows of oil into the province, over concerns that a potential spill could be not be cleaned up.

In response, Notley suspended talks with B.C. to buy CAN$500 million worth of electricity and halted imports of B.C. wine, worth about CAN$70 million a year.

Notley said she hasn’t ruled out more extreme options, such as restricting oil sent to B.C. or refusing to transport gas from that province, but says she doesn’t want to harm Alberta’s interests in the process.

In Ottawa, Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr said yesterday that the federal government will not entertain any attempts by B.C. to stall or stop the pipeline project. “If that is the goal of any province, we will take the necessary action to ensure that federally approved resource projects proceed.” Carr said.

Carr said Canada has “all kinds of options” to exert its constitutional authority over interprovincial pipelines.

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/project-news/13022018/notley-pushes-for-progress-in-bc-pipeline-dispute/