Stop playing games with Trans Mountain

The Trans Mountain pipeline is a no- brainer to most Canadians. The federal government has given it the thumbs up. The National Energy Board has granted it an OK. The requisite studies and reports are all in.

The economic projections for the

$ 7.4- billion pipeline confirm the project will be an economic boon. Trans Mountain estimates government taxes and royalties from construction and operation at

$ 46.7 billion during the next 20 years.

Even if those numbers are inflated, even a fraction of this sum is reason to support the project.

Yet British Columbia’s NDP government has gone brain- dead over this no- brainer, so much so that they’re now fighting their Alberta NDP counterparts led by Rachel Notley.

In recent weeks, B. C. Environment and Climate Change Minister George Heyman has tried to obstruct the project by announcing more regulations against bitumen transportation.

Notley is firing back, threatening to keep B. C. electricity and wines out of her province. And that’s just her warning shot.

What can be done about all of this? Enter Independent Senator Doug Black from Alberta. He’s sponsored Bill S- 245, described in its long title as “An Act to declare the Trans Mountain Pipeline Project and related works to be for the general advantage of Canada.”

Black cites a clause from the Constitution Act of 1867 as his justification to make the country wake up and realize this already approved project is more important than the political posturing and extreme environmentalism that’s going on in B. C. This project needs to happen and the games must stop.

While S- 245 has only gone through first reading to date, there’s reason to believe the Senate will approve the bill.

But it won’t become legislation until it next makes it way through the House of Commons.

That’s where things get interesting. The bill will force the hand of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberals. Do they really support this pipeline? Do they really believe in important nation- building projects?

If so, Trudeau should support this legislation right out of the gate. Hollow words won’t cut it in a situation with such critical and competing implications. Nor does sitting on the fence.

Senator Black is being the adult in the room. Trudeau needs to join him.