Notley hails federal marine safety initiative

Premier says plan will help meet B.C. conditions for allowing pipeline

Premier Rachel Notley says the federal government’s new marine safety initiative is good news for Alberta in its push for a new pipeline.

On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced $1.5 billion over five years to fund an Oceans Protection Plan that includes beefing up the Canadian Coast Guard, restoring marine ecosystems and using new methods and research to deal with oil spills.

In question period on Tuesday, Notley said she was “very pleased” with Ottawa’s move.

“I think the federal government is making great progress with respect to meeting a number of the conditions that the government of B.C. had outlined with respect to ensuring safety on the west coast,” she said.

“I hope that as we all continue to work together to make sure that we protect the environment while still building our economic infrastructure, that ultimately we’ll get to success on the economic infrastructure.”

British Columbia’s Liberal government has made a world-leading marine safety system one of its five conditions for allowing any new oilsands pipelines to proceed.

Premier Christy Clark praised Trudeau’s commitment this week, though she said more work needs to be done.

The federal cabinet is expected to make a decision on Kinder Morgan’s planned $6.8-billion expansion of its Trans Mountain pipeline by Dec. 19.

Notley was responding in the legislature to Wildrose Leader Brian Jean, who pressed the premier on why she was not taking on the federal government over its promise to ban oil tanker traffic along B.C.’s northern coast. Trudeau reiterated this week that his government intended to keep that pledge.

“Goodbye Northern Gateway,” Jean said in reference to Enbridge’s planned west coast pipeline.

The Trudeau government also announced Tuesday that it had appointed a five-person panel to make recommendations to overhaul the National Energy Board, the federal regulatory board that has faced controversy over its handling of pipeline proposals.

Among the panel members is Brenda Kenny, former president of the Canadian Energy Pipeline Association.

In a statement, NDP Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd said Alberta fully supports Ottawa’s decision. “Canadians must have confidence in the NEB,” she said.

“Our hope is that the review process is done well and can proceed as quickly as possible, without additional delays, so that constructive dialogue can resume on how we build energy infrastructure in our country.”

Our hope is that the review process is done well and can proceed as quickly as possible, without additional delays.