One local man said he has mixed feelings about the war of words between Alberta and B.C. premiers over expanding the Trans Mountain pipeline.
Peter Buisman said he is having a hard time deciding where to stand. He was one of a few city residents the Gazette asked to weigh in on the topic this week.
“I do feel for the B.C. people and the environment. But then having said that, I know our economy depends on it so, it’s an internal debate,” said Buisman.
Buisman said he’s been following the pipeline dispute between the provinces since it started last year. As he walks towards his car, he said he hopes that the two premiers can figure out a compromise and put an end to the conflict.
“I don’t want that war, I’m not really into this one-upmanship and this power idea. They have to work this out,” he said.
On May 16 the Alberta government passed Bill 12. The Preserving Canada’s Economic Prosperity Act will allow the government to control how much oil, natural gas and refined fuels will flow between Alberta and other provinces.
Companies will be required to obtain export licenses in order to get their product to other provinces, which will be approved by Alberta Energy Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd. The licenses can be denied or issued for lower amounts than previously being exported.
Oil companies that break the rules could be fined $10 million per day.
The new law is in response to the B.C. government efforts to stall – such as calling for further environmental reviews – on twinning the existing Trans Mountain pipeline. If built, the pipeline will send oil from Alberta to the West Coast.
Buisman said he’s worried what will happen if the government actually uses the bill against B.C.
“We can be a pretty greedy people sometimes, is it really all about the money? Do we need it that much?” he said. “I’m concerned about it, I don’t want to stick it to them.”
What’s happened so far?
The federal government gave the green light on the $7.4-billion project in 2016, but hasn’t forced the expansion forward.In response to the project, B.C. Premier John Horgan called for additional studies on environmental risks, such as impacts of an oil spill. Notley said it was a stalling tactic and enforced a temporary ban on B.C. wine imports in February.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with the two premiers on April 15 to try and find a solution. But so far there is no resolution to the problem.
Amidst the pipeline dispute, Kinder Morgan has stopped all non-essential spending on the pipeline. If the two provinces can’t figure out a solution by May 31, the company said they could pull the project altogether.
To keep Kinder Morgan from dropping out, Finance Minister Bill Morneau said the federal government would cover any costs incurred from the B.C. government obstructing the expansion. He gave the announcement during a press conference in Ottawa on May 16.
If the company does abandon the project, Morneau said the government would reimburse any losses related to the B.C. government’s tactics to any other investor willing to pick up the project.
Morneau added that there would be no extra cost on the taxpayer.
In return of Notley’s new bill, the B.C. government is threatening legal action if Alberta uses it. Premier Horgan is also asking the Supreme Court of Appeal whether or not they can control how much bitumen leaves its province.
Where were the feds?
As Joyce Davis sits in the St. Albert Centre’s food court sipping her coffee, she said the federal government should have stepped in from the beginning.“I think he should have taken the bull by the horns and get it going,” she said. “Justin Trudeau approved it way back when and now he’s not doing anything about it.”
She said the pipeline isn’t only good for Alberta, it’s good for the entire country. If the pipeline is built, she said it’ll improve Canada’s economy while supplying it with the energy resources it needs.
City resident Michael Labonte said it made sense why the Liberal government wasn’t active in the beginning. Labonte cites the relationship that existed between Notley and former B.C. Premier Christy Clark as the reason why.
“This has been going on quite a while,” he said. “Her and Rachel Notley had a good working relationship, so there was no real issue. It’s like when you have a neighbour and you’ve got part of your shed on their property and it’s okay, and then all of a sudden a new neighbour comes in and says they want it gone.”
While he said he understood environmental concerns, he said he felt Horgan isn’t budging in order to look like a “tough guy.”
“Unfortunately they have a premier right now that’s looking out for his own personal image,” he said.
Local resident Dianne Leibel said she wants to see the pipeline go forward and supports the new bill. She said, however, that she was worried how the dispute looks to outsiders.
“It’s sad when you have two premiers bickering, I mean what does that say to the world? I find it really sad,” Leibel said. “It looks bad, like they’re a bunch of kids."
