Political manoeuvres over pipeline in B.C., payback or coincidence?
VICTORIA — Political hurdles in the form of delays, bans and tolls have been raised in British Columbia in the weeks since the province served notice that it would temporarily ban expanded shipments of bitumen on the Trans Mountain pipeline.
While the federal and Alberta governments denied Wednesday they were moving in retaliation, B.C.’s Opposition Liberals are pointing to the coincidence of a steady stream of obstacles.
B.C.’s decision to halt increased shipments of the diluted bitumen until further environmental studies are concluded saw Alberta cut off talks to purchase $500 million worth of electricity from B.C. and then ban the province’s wine imports.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley attended the first meeting on Wednesday of a 19-member panel, which includes former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna and former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan, that will look into efforts to pressure B.C. to back down from its pipeline fight.