‘Candid’ pipeline talks expected at Calgary fundraiser for B.C. Grits

Organizer says there is chance for reconciliation

Calgary power players who organized a Thursday night fundraiser for British Columbia cabinet ministers said they were expecting a conciliatory attitude from members of a government that has been embroiled in a pipeline battle with Alberta.

B.C. Energy, Mines and Natural Gas Minister Rich Coleman and Community, Sport and Cultural Development Minister Bill Bennett were to be at a $125-per-person reception — which was closed to the media — that offered those attending a “frank” discussion and “a time to mingle with the ministers.”

Christy Clark’s Liberal government has threatened to halt Enbridge’s proposed Northern Gateway pipeline from the oilsands to the West Coast if five conditions are not met, including that B.C. receive a “fair share” of the economic benefit of the $6-billion project.

Any notion of sharing royalties is a non-starter among Alberta politicians and has been flatly rejected by Premier Alison Redford’s government.

Rod Love, the former Ralph Klein adviser who is one of the event’s organizers, said the B.C. politicos maintain their stance has been “misconstrued.”

“They’ll have a candid discussion about where we are with respect to the whole Alberta-B.C. pipeline issue, energy issues,” Love said Thursday before the event.

The B.C. Liberals face an uphill election battle this May against the NDP, a party with a wide lead in most provincial polls.

The invitation to the reception said mistakes would be acknowledged in respect to the transition from former B.C. premier Gordon Campbell to Clark.

“They’re not going to come out here and say ‘everything was sweetness and light, what’s the problem?’ They’re going to say, ‘look, the transition from Campbell to Clark was messy and we acknowledge that. But there’s a new crew in place and we’re turning this thing around,’” said Love.

Campbell and Bennett were not made available for comment.

Calgary lawyer Andy Crooks, another of the event’s organizers, said there is a chance for reconciliation.

“We hope to create an opportunity for the B.C. Liberals, who have former friends in Alberta, to redeem and repair ... frayed rela- tions,” he said.

Love said more than 100 people were expected to attend the event, whose organizers also numbered Murray Edwards, vice-chairman of Canadian Natural Resources Ltd. and co-owner of the Calgary Flames.

Mount Royal University political scientist Duane Bratt said that despite the Gateway controversy, Calgary’s business and political elite continue to have major interests in B.C. and would find the Liberals more appealing than the NDP alternative.

Bratt said they would also likely perceive Gateway as having a chance under the Liberals and none under the NDP, which is firmly opposed to the project.

“You often give money to all kinds of parties, even parties you don’t agree with,” he said.