Close X
Friday, November 8, 2024
ADVT 
National

Rachel Notley Says She Wants Progress Within Days From Feds On B.C. Pipeline Dispute

The Canadian Press, 13 Feb, 2018 12:11 PM
    EDMONTON — Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says she wants progress within days from Ottawa in resolving a pipeline dispute with British Columbia, or her government will look at further retaliatory measures.
     
     
    Notley, who has already suspended talks to buy B.C. electricity and has banned B.C. wines from Alberta, reiterated Monday 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.
     
     
    "It's in British Columbia's power to put this issue to rest."
     
     
    Two weeks ago, B.C. Premier John Horgan's government announced it was looking at restricting expanded flows of oil into the province pending a review to make sure that such spills could be properly cleaned up.
     
     
    The move would have a direct impact on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which was OK'd in 2016 by the federal government but has faced delays and opposition in B.C. ever since.
     
     
    Horgan says the restriction is in keeping with the province's responsibility to keep its coastline and waterways safe.
     
     
    But Notley said it's clear constitutionally that Ottawa has the final say on interprovincial projects like pipelines.
     
     
    She said Horgan and his government can follow the law, "or they can dig in their heels and pretend they are a separate country with powers to make whatever laws they want with no regard for the Constitution or the views and rights of other Canadians."
     
     
    Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government has been meeting with B.C. counterparts in recent days to resolve the impasse.
     
     
    Notley has announced she has suspended talks with B.C. to buy $500 million worth of electricity and has halted imports of B.C. wine, worth about $70 million a year. She has also struck a task force to look at other ways to respond to incursions from B.C., and from any other jurisdiction, on its core industry.
     
     
    Notley said she will give the feds a little more time to resolve the issue, but not too much.
     
     
    "When I say we're going to give them a little bit of space, we're talking days, not much more than that," she said.
     
     
    Notley said she hasn't ruled out more extreme options such as finding ways to restrict oil to B.C. or refusing to transport gas from that province, but said she doesn't want to harm Alberta's interests in the process.
     
     
    "You cut off shipments to B.C, it's Alberta's economy that feels that more than B.C.'s," she said.
     
     
    Kinder Morgan Canada has approval to triple capacity on the existing Trans Mountain line, from Edmonton to Burnaby.
     
     
    It's a critical lifeline for Alberta's, and Canada's, oil industry as it seeks better prices globally for its product and offsets steep discounts due to tight pipeline capacity on the North American grid.
     
     
    Trudeau's government has said the project will proceed.
     
     
    Alberta United Conservative Opposition leader Jason Kenney has urged Notley to reconvene the legislature for an emergency debate on the issue.
     
     
    Notley dismissed that.
     
     
    "I think that what we need to do is not be talking to each other inside this building, but rather speaking to people across this country about the import of our position, and so that's what we're going to do."
     
     
    She said on Tuesday her government will roll out an online campaign "so that Albertans and Canadians who want to voice their support for a strong economy and a strong environment can do so to the B.C. and Canadian governments."

    MORE National ARTICLES

    Ontario Girl Who Was Teased For Love Of Bugs Gets Name In Science Journal

    Ontario Girl Who Was Teased For Love Of Bugs Gets Name In Science Journal
    Sophia Spencer hated it when classmates taunted her for her love of insects, but seeing them kill her pet grasshoppers for fun was even worse.

    Ontario Girl Who Was Teased For Love Of Bugs Gets Name In Science Journal

    MLA Sam Sullivan First To Announce Bid To Become Leader Of BC Liberals

    MLA Sam Sullivan First To Announce Bid To Become Leader Of BC Liberals
    VANCOUVER — British Columbia MLA Sam Sullivan has become the first person to announce plans to run for the leadership of the province's Liberal party, and others are expected to be lining up soon.

    MLA Sam Sullivan First To Announce Bid To Become Leader Of BC Liberals

    B.C. Government Announces Review Of Possible Money Laundering At Casino

    Eby says he'll announce the appointment of an independent expert to review if there are unaddressed issues of money laundering in Lower Mainland casinos.

    B.C. Government Announces Review Of Possible Money Laundering At Casino

    Rumours Suggest Changes Coming To Feds' Tax Reform Proposal: B.C. Minister Carole James

    Rumours Suggest Changes Coming To Feds' Tax Reform Proposal: B.C. Minister Carole James
    VANCOUVER — British Columbia's finance minister says there are rumours the federal government will back off on parts of its proposed tax reforms for small business that have elicited anger across the country.

    Rumours Suggest Changes Coming To Feds' Tax Reform Proposal: B.C. Minister Carole James

    OPINION: Jagmeet Singh And The Politics of Identity

    Are Canadians ready for a Prime Minister with a turban? Any political observer will answer in the affirmative based on conclusions drawn from the voting behaviour of Canadians.

    OPINION: Jagmeet Singh And The Politics of Identity

    RCMP Arrest Nunavut Man Who Evaded Them For Almost Three Months

    RCMP Arrest Nunavut Man Who Evaded Them For Almost Three Months
    CAPE DORSET, Nunavut — RCMP from Cape Dorset in Nunavut say they have arrested a man who evaded them by living outside the community for almost three months.

    RCMP Arrest Nunavut Man Who Evaded Them For Almost Three Months