Legislature takes angry tone with B.C. pipeline opponents
Political tensions around the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion boiled over Monday, with the NDP and UCP appearing united in directing their animosity toward forces working to block the project and Premier Notley calling her B.C. counterpart’s position ‘bad for all Canadians.’
Speaker Bob Wanner has banned legislature talk of “war” and “knocking sense” into people.
Maybe he thinks Alberta politicians are about to pour over the hills and attack B.C. The rhetoric of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline, already hot, came to a boil on Monday.
This issue unites the UCP and NDP in one thing at least — rising anger at the B.C. forces trying to block the pipeline.
UCP member Raj Panda asked: “What has the minister of energy done to knock some common sense into the mayor of Burnaby (Derek Corrigan) to stop delaying permits for a project deemed to be a national interest by the National Energy Board?”
Environment Minister Shannon Phillips didn’t like the question. “This kind of violent language is completely inappropriate and just completely unnecessary,” she said.
The Speaker added: “I too find that words like ‘knocking on the head’ are not advisable in this house. I heard earlier use of the word ‘war.’ Can we just please use different language ...?”
Corrigan’s cranium appears safe from the Alberta government, although he doesn’t seem too worried about it. His counter blast, outlined by Postmedia columnist Chris Varcoe today, is positively sulphurous.
Phillips, although offended by Panda’s language, basically agreed with his opinion.
“The City of Burnaby is overreaching,” she said.
Phillips might not have said that a year ago. The NDP’s most ardent environmentalist, she has a long record of activism in her pre-election years.
For instance, she famously penned the introduction for a Greenpeace booklet called An Action A Day Keeps Global Capitalism Away.
On Monday she said Alberta has advised the National Energy Board “of our intent to participate fully to support Kinder Morgan in its dispute with Burnaby.” Those views don’t exactly align. But the Alberta New Democrats are resentful. They feel they’ve done a lot for the environment and won two big pipeline approvals.
In return they get low approval ratings, endless sneering from Alberta conservatives, and nothing but grief from their so-called former friends.
In Premier Rachel Notley’s caucus there’s a distinct hardening toward B.C. Premier John Horgan, and the federal NDP as well.
Notley tried to trade firm environmental actions for goodwill toward the Kinder Morgan project. When Northern Gateway died, she took a pass. Surely something would be thrown back. Just one pipeline to tidewater.
That argument was difficult even with former B.C. premier Christy Clark. With Horgan, it’s completely impossible. He has spurned every friendly gesture.
The defining image of this guy is his oily excitement when he struck a deal with Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver, to become the premier.
Now he really is doing everything possible to stop Kinder Morgan. The strategy is clear — stall, challenge, evade, throw up roadblocks, until the proponent finally backs out.
It worked with Energy East. It could work with Kinder Morgan.
Notley’s tone has turned much tougher.
“We have been very clear in our position all along, that we believe the position of the B.C. NDP is incorrect, is wrong, is bad for Alberta, is bad for British Columbians, is bad for all Canadians,” she told the legislature. “We have made that position over and over and over again very clear, and we will continue to do it.”
Needled about the instant opposition to pipelines from the new federal NDP leader, Jagmeet Singh, Notley said: “I have told Mr. Singh that he is wrong. He is dead wrong. But just as important, he is irrelevant.
“And the reason he is irrelevant is because the decision has already been taken by the federal government.”
The UCP want Notley to threaten “consequences” to Horgan’s crew. Party leader Jason Kenney says that if B.C. overthrows the federal ruling, he’d answer with economic reprisals.
“There’s a great deal that British Columbia depends on that comes from Alberta,” Kenney said.
Notley doesn’t echo that — yet. The day may come.
Meanwhile, there’s muted joy on both sides of the Alberta aisle at the surprise defeat of Mayor Denis Coderre in the Montreal civic election. He lost to Valerie Plante, the first female mayor in nearly four centuries.
Coderre fought Energy East when he couldn’t have known what it was. He voiced delight when it was cancelled. Now he’s cancelled too.
Political justice does arise, sometimes.