Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says discussion between the province, federal government and Kinder Morgan Inc. are progressing and that she’s confident construction on the $7.4 billion Trans Mountain expansion project will be “getting back on track this summer.”
“Ottawa is very serious and in determined discussions with Alberta and with Kinder Morgan,” Notley told reporters in Edmonton Thursday, adding that the three parties are communicating on a daily basis.
“And although I’m unable to provide specifics at this time, I want to assure Albertans that the only outcome that is acceptable to us and to a growing number of people across this country, including of course now a majority in British Columbia, is the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline.”
In the meantime, and with the Kinder Morgan-imposed May 31 deadline looming, Notley said Alberta will continue to “put the pressure on” the British Columbia provincial government as it continues to vigorously oppose the expansion project.
“To that end Bill 12 will be voted on and passed shortly. As I’ve said, if it becomes necessary to use the power that Bill 12 gives us—the power to strategically deploy our resources—we will,” the premier said.
Bill 12, which is designed to allow the province to restrict its shipments of oil to B.C., was introduced last month, but not passed into law yet. Notley said the bill would likely be voted on in the Alberta Legislature early next week.
“Again, as I’ve said, it’s not that we will not use Bill 12, because we will if we need to. But we need to use it at the right time, at the right place [and] in the right way in order to strategically deploy our resources in a way that most effectively grows benefits for the Alberta industry,” she said.
“As for Bill 12 we do have a very big, effective tool at our disposal. B.C. knows this and even more importantly, the federal government knows this,” Notley said.
“If we have to we will do whatever is required to get this job done and we will not hesitate. But we must be strategic. We must deploy this tool with a cool hand, not an angry one.”
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says discussion between the province, federal government and Kinder Morgan Inc. are progressing and that she’s confident construction on the $7.4 billion Trans Mountain expansion project will be “getting back on track this summer.”
“Ottawa is very serious and in determined discussions with Alberta and with Kinder Morgan,” Notley told reporters in Edmonton Thursday, adding that the three parties are communicating on a daily basis.
“And although I’m unable to provide specifics at this time, I want to assure Albertans that the only outcome that is acceptable to us and to a growing number of people across this country, including of course now a majority in British Columbia, is the construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline.”
In the meantime, and with the Kinder Morgan-imposed May 31 deadline looming, Notley said Alberta will continue to “put the pressure on” the British Columbia provincial government as it continues to vigorously oppose the expansion project.
“To that end Bill 12 will be voted on and passed shortly. As I’ve said, if it becomes necessary to use the power that Bill 12 gives us—the power to strategically deploy our resources—we will,” the premier said.
Bill 12, which is designed to allow the province to restrict its shipments of oil to B.C., was introduced last month, but not passed into law yet. Notley said the bill would likely be voted on in the Alberta Legislature early next week.
“Again, as I’ve said, it’s not that we will not use Bill 12, because we will if we need to. But we need to use it at the right time, at the right place [and] in the right way in order to strategically deploy our resources in a way that most effectively grows benefits for the Alberta industry,” she said.
“As for Bill 12 we do have a very big, effective tool at our disposal. B.C. knows this and even more importantly, the federal government knows this,” Notley said.
“If we have to we will do whatever is required to get this job done and we will not hesitate. But we must be strategic. We must deploy this tool with a cool hand, not an angry one.”
Alberta to fight B.C. reference case
In late April, the B.C. government submitted a reference to the BC Court of Appeal asking for clarity on whether it is within the province’s power to enact environmental laws that would restrict the flow of diluted bitumen through B.C. And Notley said Alberta is prepared to argue its case against the John Horgan-led B.C. government.
“I’m announcing today that Alberta … will of course be seeking full [intervenor] status in the B.C. reference case. We are doing so because the powers that B.C. is seeking are a threat to Alberta’s economy and, quite frankly, that of our whole nation,” Notley told reporters.
“If British Columbia attains the right to throttle our resources, every other province will be given the same rights. The economic consequences would be severe throughout the country. B.C. should be, quite frankly, careful what it asks for. I am very confident in the strength of our legal case in this matter.”
On May 3, the Government of Canada confirmed it will intervene in the constitutional reference question filed by the Government of British Columbia under the Constitutional Questions Act, Jody Wilson-Raybould, federal Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, said.
"We are confident in Parliament's jurisdiction and will intervene on the question in order to defend our clear jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines."
A message for the mayor
Notley also criticized comments Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson made in an interview earlier this week with Bloomberg News in New York. Robertson said that the pipeline will not be built because local opposition will only intensify and because Canada needs to get off of fossil fuels.
“It’s hard not to read some of the ridiculous assertions … that were made by the mayor of Vancouver a couple of days ago and not be angry. But as premier, it’s not my job to act out in anger. Rather, we must, and our government will, act with determination and purpose to achieve the objectives,” Notley said.
In the Bloomberg interview, Robertson said: "I don’t think this project will go—I really don’t— based on the resistance on the ground.”
Notley said Robertson lacks understanding of how the Trans Mountain project would benefit not only Alberta, but Canada as a whole.
“[Robertson’s comments] just show a tremendous inability to look beyond the most local of borders. They obviously demonstrate a tremendous lack of knowledge in what generates wealth within the economy of Canada and a tremendous lack of knowledge of what generates wealth in the province of B.C. So that’s clear,” Notley said.
Notley said she has penned an op-ed piece in response that will be distributed to Vancouver media.
Pro Trans Mountain ad campaign launched
Meanwhile, the premier said Alberta is ramping up its fight with British Columbia for the Trans Mountain project with an ad campaign to influence public opinion.
The $1.2 million advertising campaign on the benefits of expanding the Canadian oilsands link to the Pacific will feature billboards and allocate $700,000 of spending in B.C.
“Alberta is upping our efforts to give Canadians, and particularly British Columbians, the facts about the Trans Mountain pipeline,” Notley said.
“We will not stand on the sidelines in the battle for the hearts and minds of Canadians. That approach, quite frankly, has been taken in the past and it hasn’t worked, to put it mildly.”
The campaign, which has already begun to be implemented, will feature billboards with the phrase “Trans Mountain pipeline means more money for roads, schools and hospitals,” as well as television and radio advertising that will appear nationally.
