Province seeks to intervene in Trans Mountain Pipeline case
Concerned a British Columbia municipality is holding up a national pipeline project, Saskatchewan’s attorney general has applied for intervener status in the Trans Mountain Pipeline proceedings currently before the National Energy Board.
“We are disappointed the City of Burnaby is deliberately slowing down an important project for an industry that is only now recovering from the severe slowdown caused by low oil prices,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Don Morgan said Friday in a news release. “Saskatchewan has consistently taken the position that once an interprovincial pipeline has been approved by the federal government, provinces and municipalities should not be able to interfere.”
The news follows a similar move by the Alberta NDP government, which notified the National Energy Board (NEB) on Thursday that it will intervene as Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd., seeks a determination to allow work to begin on the Burnaby portion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion, even though the municipality has not issued permits.
On Oct. 26 the law firm representing Trans Mountain Pipeline filed a notice of motion and constitutional question with the NEB, and served it, as required by law, on all Canadian attorneys general. The constitutional question alleges Burnaby has refused to issue permits to Trans Mountain that are required under its zoning bylaw and tree bylaw, and that this has resulted in unreasonable delays in completing the project.
The Saskatchewan government says the pipeline is an interprovincial project that falls under federal jurisdiction. Trans Mountain has asked that written submissions on this issue be provided to the NEB by Monday. Saskatchewan has asked the board for a time extension.
“Our government will continue to advocate for an expansion of pipeline capacity across Canada,” Morgan said. “Our energy companies need to get their product to tidewater to ensure they receive the best price possible. All Canadians benefit from a thriving energy sector, including the citizens of Burnaby.” The $7.4-billion expansion of the line to the Pacific coast has already been approved by the federal cabinet, but British Columbia’s government has vowed to use legal means to block it. Postmedia News