Discussions between Alberta and British Columbia over the Trans Mountain Pipeline are reaching a boiling point. At noon Monday, members of the Alberta NDP cabinet had an emergency meeting to discuss B.C’s proposal to restrict bitumen imports by pipeline or railway into the province.
The B.C. government says it wants to do this so they can establish a board to review safe oil transportation practices and spill cleanups. The move, if approved, would prevent Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline from any further expansion.
Alberta premier Rachel Notley says the move is a hit at the Alberta economy and acting outside the law.
“The B.C. government took aim at the jobs of hundreds of thousands of hardworking women and men in every industry that depends on governments acting within the rule of law.”
Notley says B.C took this action with little no warning or notice, and the Alberta government will be looking at taking next steps.
“Although we have every expectation and we have had every expectation that the B.C. government would act within the law, we’ve also done so preparatory work looking at possible legal and economic responses should they chose not to.”
Notley is calling on all Canadians and Canadian governments to join them in supporting the pipeline expansion project. So far, the new Premier of Saskatchewan Scott Moe has come out in support of the Alberta government.
Written by Dan Soul, 106.1 The Goat
