EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Jason Kenney says his government now has the power to reduce oil flows to British Columbia in the fight over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Kenney says he called B.C. Premier John Horgan after the cabinet proclaimed a bill into law on Tuesday.
He says it was a cordial discussion and he emphasized to Horgan that it's not Alberta's intention to use the legislation right away, but that the province will defend its interests.
The bill was passed by Alberta's former NDP government but never activated.
Kenney says it is important to make it clear that Alberta will take action if necessary to respond to what he calls B.C.'s obstruction of the Trans Mountain expansion, which would allow more oil to be moved from Alberta to tankers on the West Coast.
"It is my job as premier to defend Alberta, to preserve the value of our resources and to stand up for our workers. Our government wants to co-operate with B.C.... But we will never be afraid to stand up for Alberta when we must."https://t.co/8Pafl7MoWB
— Jason Kenney (@jkenney) May 1, 2019
Opposition Leader Rachel Notley has said that proclaiming the bill but not acting on it is a foolish move because it opens up a legal challenge from B.C., which could tie up the legislation in court.
Kenney says he knows Horgan is in a tough place, given that gas prices are soaring in B.C.'s Lower Mainland.
"People in the Vancouver region are rightfully ticked off," he says.
"They're paying $1.70 a litre to fill up their cars and their trucks, and they want to know why.
"I believe one of the reasons why is that we don't have enough pipeline capacity to ship both refined gas and unrefined bitumen to the Lower Mainland."
If B.C. tries to tie up Alberta's legislation, Kenney says "we'll respond in court."