OTTAWA — British Columbia Premier David Eby isn’t saying “no” to Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith’s pitch to revive the cancelled Northern Gateway pipeline undertaking to the West Coast, however his evasiveness on the subject speaks volumes.
Eby was fast to steer the dialogue to “factors of settlement” when requested about Northern Gateway Thursday on the Western Premiers’ Convention in Yellowknife.
“I do know Danielle’s precedence is to get heavy oil to tidewater. She could be very unambiguous about that. My precedence is to… decarbonize and drive our economic system in British Columbia,” stated Eby, who occurred to be seated subsequent to Smith in a conference-ending media availability.
“If Premier Smith is ready to persuade the federal authorities to construct one other pipeline by British Columbia, or a personal proponent, we’ll cross that bridge once we come to it.”
Within the days main as much as the convention Smith referred to as for the undertaking to not solely be
revived but additionally fast-tracked
saying that almost all direct path to ship Alberta oil to rising markets in Asia was by B.C.’s northern coast.
Northern Gateway, an initiative of Calgary-based pipeline firm Enbridge Inc., was to hold Alberta oil to a deep-water marine terminal in northwestern B.C., the place it will then be exported through tanker.
The undertaking was terminated by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in late 2016, one 12 months after
on crude oil tanker visitors off B.C.’s north coast.
The tanker ban was later entrenched in Liberal laws.
Eby stated on Thursday that he was averse to “opening up the pristine north coast to tanker visitors,” particularly with the brand new Trans Mountain Pipeline growth (TMX) not crammed to capability.
“If the urgency is to get product to tidewater, I’d begin (with) guaranteeing that this publicly owned infrastructure is used to its full capability,” stated Eby.
TMX, which ends in B.C.’s Decrease Mainland, has been working at
since coming on-line in Might 2024, in response to the Canada Vitality Regulator.
Nevertheless, trade specialists say it’s optimum for oil pipelines to run
considerably under full capability
to present producers the pliability to reroute product to totally different markets.
Smith stated that, pipeline or no pipeline, she noticed great potential in B.C.’s northern coast as a hub for Canadian exports, and was particularly bullish on the Port of Prince Rupert.
“(Prince Rupert) is one of the best (level of) entry to get all of our merchandise… to the Asian markets,” stated Smith.
She added that merchandise shipped to Asia from Prince Rupert arrive weeks ahead of these shipped from the U.S. through the Gulf of Mexico.
A spokesperson for Enbridge stated the corporate is as soon as burned, twice shy, and would require a extra predictable funding local weather earlier than renewing a pipeline undertaking to route heavy Alberta oil to tidewater.
“Whereas we’re happy to see Canadian policymakers discussing methods to make Canada an power superpower, any new pipeline undertaking would require cautious consideration and actual provincial and federal legislative change,” wrote Enbridge communications advisor Gina Sutherland in an electronic mail to Nationwide Put up.
“This contains figuring out power tasks as being within the nationwide curiosity, implementing globally aggressive power and carbon insurance policies, simplifying regulation, lowering regulatory timelines and enhancing the Indigenous mortgage assure program to permit for extra Indigenous session, engagement and direct participation in power tasks.”
“
We’d like clear proof of a supportive framework earlier than contemplating a serious undertaking like Northern Gateway.”
Nationwide Put up
rmohamed@postmedia.com
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