BAD CALL BY B.C.’S CLARK

With a provincial election looming Tuesday, B.C. Liberal Leader Christy Clark has promised to slap a tariff on the export of thermal coal through West Coast ports.

The announcement has implications for Alberta, but even more worrying, the plan would set a dangerous precedent on the extent of provincial powers.

The Coal Valley mine west of Edmonton produced 2.2 million tonnes of the fossil fuel last year. Most of the product is carried by rail to Prince Rupert, B.C., where it is shipped to Asia for use in power facilities. It’s understood that Clark’s levy of $70 per tonne, if carried out, would make the mine unprofitable, putting the jobs of 300 workers at risk, as well as the income of contractors and suppliers.

Clark’s action is meant as retaliation for the tariff the United States has imposed on Canadian softwood lumber. And indeed, the great majority of the thermal coal exported from B.C. originates in America — so Clark’s focus is not entirely misplaced.

Still, the B.C. Liberal leader’s proposal is against the spirit of Confederation, which provides for the free transport of goods between provinces. It also violates the New West Partnership trade pact signed between B.C., Alberta and Saskatchewan. The agreement says “each party shall ensure that its measures do not operate to restrict or impair trade between, among or through the territory of the parties.”

If Clark is going to tax Alberta coal being shipped to Asia, then Alberta should be able to tax B.C. wine on its way to Toronto, or natural gas crossing the province by pipeline, as Herald columnist Don Braid points out.

Certainly, there’s an irony that Alberta would close down its own coal-fired electricity plants at great public expense, and yet provide the dirty fuel for Asia to keep its facilities operating — with the creation of untold greenhouse gas emissions getting it there — but Clark is pandering to left-wing voters with her proposal. She’s hoping an assault against fossil fuels will gain her some much-needed support in Tuesday’s election.

The biggest concern, however, is that of a premier pretending to represent an entire nation. International trade is a federal responsibility. It will be up to the Trudeau government to determine what its response will be to the American levy on softwood lumber — action the federal Liberals appear ready to take.

Canada is a confederation that thankfully has laws and customs that set out which level of government must shoulder responsibly for certain tasks.

Simply put, Clark overplayed her hand.