Kinder Morgan announced Sunday afternoon that it will stop all non-essential work and any related spending on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion between Edmonton and Burnaby.
The controversial project would twin an existing oil pipeline that extends from central Alberta to the west coast.
READ:
B次元官网网址淎 company cannot resolve differences between governments. While we have succeeded in all legal challenges to date, a company cannot litigate its way to an in-service pipeline amidst jurisdictional differences between governments,B次元官网网址� said KML chairman and CEO Steve Kean in a statement.
The company said it would speak with stakeholders before making a decision by May 31, B次元官网网址渞ather than risking billions of dollars on an outcome that is outside of our control.B次元官网网址�
This move comes after Kinder Morgan had already slowed down work on the pipeline expansion, as it focused on advancing the permitting process rather than pushing ahead at full speed during the first half of 2018.
B次元官网网址淲e appreciate the support shown by the federal government and the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan, and are grateful for the strong endorsements among the majority of communities along the route and 43 Indigenous communities, as well as customers, contractors and unions,B次元官网网址� Kean continued.
B次元官网网址淭he fact remains that a substantial portion of the project must be constructed through British Columbia, and since the change in government in June 2017, that government has been clear and public in its intention to use B次元官网网址榚very tool in the toolboxB次元官网网址� to stop the project. The uncertainty created by BC has not been resolved but instead has escalated into an inter-governmental dispute.B次元官网网址�
Despite the news, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said she was B次元官网网址渧ery optimisticB次元官网网址� that the pipeline would be built.
B次元官网网址淎lbertans have been clear, get this pipeline built and Albertans are right, this pipeline must be built,B次元官网网址� Notley told the media Sunday.
Albertans have been clear: Get this pipeline built.
B次元官网网址� Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley)
And Albertans are right. This pipeline must be built.
Never count Alberta out. This pipeline will be built.
She threatened to bring forth legislation that would heat up the trade war between the two provinces.
B次元官网网址淚f Premier Horgan believes he can harass this project without serious economic consequences for British Columbia, then he is wrong,B次元官网网址� Notley said.
B次元官网网址淚f I was a resident of British Columbia I would be very worried about the investment climate of B.C.B次元官网网址�
Speaking at a press conference an hour later, Premier John Horgan said he wasnB次元官网网址檛 worried in the slightest.
B次元官网网址淲e are open for business and we are a great place to invest,B次元官网网址� Horgan said. B次元官网网址淚 have no intention of escalating controversy across the country.
B次元官网网址淚 have every expectation that people will respect British ColumbiaB次元官网网址檚 right to defend our interest and defend our coast, and thatB次元官网网址檚 what I will do,B次元官网网址� he affirmed.
Although Horgan and Notley havenB次元官网网址檛 spoken since Kinder MorganB次元官网网址檚 announcement today, Horgan said that he has spoken with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
While the two disagree on the pipeline, Horgan said B次元官网网址渢here were no threats, there was no intimidationB次元官网网址� from Trudeau, despite a longstanding federal belief that the project is in the national interest of the country.
The Trans Mountain project has been the source of months of tension between the two provinces. , a ban on B.C. wine, and suspended talks to purchase electricity from B.C., with Horgan vowing to fight the pipeline in court.
B次元官网网址淭he Government of Alberta can do and should do whatever it thinks is necessary,B次元官网网址� said Horgan.
When asked how B.C. can justify pushing back against a federally-approved project, Horgan said he believed protecting B.C. was fully within the provinceB次元官网网址檚 jurisdiction.
There was B次元官网网址渘o constitutional crisisB次元官网网址� when Energy East was cancelled, Horgan pointed out.
READ:
If Kinder MorganB次元官网网址檚 investors are scared off by the interprovincial dispute, Notley said that Alberta wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be.
B次元官网网址淎lberta is prepared to be an investor in the pipeline,B次元官网网址� she added, declining to say what that would mean financially for her province.
"Alberta is prepared to be an investor in the pipeline," says, noting that the province will be a lot more determined than Kinder Morgan's current Trans Mountain investors. "We need to get this thing moving."
B次元官网网址� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
Notley lauded the federal government for its pro-pipeline stance but said that Ottawa needs to do more to push the project through.
B次元官网网址淔ederal approval of a project must be worth more than the paper it is written on,B次元官网网址� she said.
. says she has a call into but that the two premiers haven't spoken since Kinder Morgan made its decision to halt work.
B次元官网网址� Kat Slepian (@katslepian)
The work stoppage on the pipeline expansion comes just days after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau visited B.C. to reiterate CanadaB次元官网网址檚 commitment to the project, despite ongoing opposition from protesters and the B.C. government.
READ:
Kinder Morgan said it has spent $1.1 billion to develop the project since its initial filing with the National Energy Board in 2013. Concern over the provincial governmentB次元官网网址檚 participation in an ongoing judicial review and its assertion of broad jurisdiction have created growing uncertainty to the regulatory landscape.
Like us on and follow us on .
