As the federal government passes its contentious bill to streamline approvals of so-called nation-building projects, B.C. Premier
David Eby says he’s doubtful he can be convinced of the need to build a new pipeline through his province.
The Liberals’ Bill C-5 — dubbed the Building Canada Act — passed 306 to 31 on Friday, just minutes before the House rose for the summer break. The bill — aimed at giving government sweeping new powers to approve major projects of national interest — is now headed for the Senate, where it’s expected to pass. Amid opposition to the bill, Prime Minister Mark Carney has promised that he won’t impose a project on a province that doesn’t want it, and that all projects will require consensus to go ahead.
The condition prompted Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to say during an interview on CTV Question Period earlier this month that she would “convince” Eby to support building a pipeline to transport oil from her province, through his, to tidewater.
Eby has said he won’t support a new pipeline built with any public dollars, arguing the Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX) is already in place.
In an interview on CTV Question Period airing Sunday, Eby told host Vassy Kapelos the priority should be getting TMX operating at capacity before greenlighting new projects.“There’s no fight here,” Eby said, of the potential standoff between the two premiers. “The concern that I have is a matter of priorities.” “(TMX) is owned by Canadians. It’s not operating at capacity,” Eby also said. “There’s 200,000 additional barrels of capacity in that pipeline. Let’s start there.”
The B.C. premier added he doesn’t think a new pipeline should be subsidized by government, arguing there are other energy projects being proposed by private companies, which should be prioritized.
Source: ctvnews.ca/politics
