PIPELINE SHOWDOWN SET
PM invites warring premiers
EDMONTON A few hours before a few hundred people gathered at the legislature for a pro-pipeline rally, Premier Rachel Notley said she’s heading back to Ottawa for more meetings about the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
“I don’t really go into it with any particular expectations,” Notley said Thursday, ahead of a Sunday meeting with B.C. Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Notley just returned from Toronto, where she met with the federal finance minister.
“There’s only one outcome for Alberta and that is that the pipeline gets built, construction starts this year and we move forward,” she added.
Horgan continues to oppose the project and argues it threatens B.C.’s coast.
The hundreds of people gathered Thursday at the Alberta legislature for a pro-pipeline rally came on the heels of a similar action outside Calgary’s McDougall Centre on Tuesday.
Protesters chanted rounds of “Build that pipe” emboldened by signs with messages such as “Pipeline love forever” and the more explanatory “Global oil and gas demand is growing.”
Federal Infrastructure and Communities Minister Amarjeet Sohi, Liberal MP for Edmonton-Mill Woods, received a mixed reaction from the crowd, including boos and shouts.
“Your federal government is undeterred,” he said in a speech. “Let me assure you it will be built.”
Provincial politicians on both sides of the aisle attended the rally, with speeches from NDP Economic Development and Trade Minis- ter Deron Bilous, United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney and Alberta Party Leader Stephen Mandel. Edmonton Mayor Don Iveson also spoke to the crowd.
“The stakes are too high and this pipeline is too big to fail,” Bilous said, calling it a constitutional crisis.
Kenney said Albertans have to fight for a prosperous future: “We are so blessed to own the thirdlargest oil reserves on Earth.”
Kinder Morgan Inc. cast a shadow on the $7.4-billion pipeline expansion project when it announced Sunday all non-essential spending would stop. The company set a May 31 deadline to restore shareholder faith, warning the project may be abandoned.
“This doesn’t exactly instil me with a lot of confidence,” Kenney said in an interview about Notley ’s trip. “My expectation is we’ll see some vague news release about working together, continuing to communicate.”
Horgan needs to accept federal jurisdiction over the project to save the pipeline, he said: “We’re in a situation where that’s almost all that will satisfy the company.”
Notley said Alberta would buy the project outright if necessary to ensure a pipeline expansion to tidewater. She also promised the NDP will introduce Bill 12 — the Preserving Canada’s Economic Prosperity Act — regardless of what happens in Ottawa. The legislation is expected to give Alberta the ability to restrict oil shipments to B.C.