Pipelines are crucial to national prosperity
The governments of Alberta and British Columbia are waging an intense trade dispute over the proposed Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which would run between Edmonton and Burnaby. But the implications extend far beyond those two provinces.
The details of the feud have been well-documented. After B.C.’s NDP government, led by Premier John Horgan, said it wants more time to review the project (which has federal approval), Alberta’s NDP government, led by Premier Rachel Notley, announced a ban on B.C. wine imports and halted talks about electricity imports from its western neighbour.
While this issue is often framed as Alberta (and its interests) versus B.C. (and its interests), in reality, the benefits of Alberta’s natural resource sector extend beyond provincial borders.
This isn’t a debate about whether oil will get to market, but how the oil will get there, and that has crucial economic and environmental implications. That means thinking about how to maximize the benefits of Canada’s natural resources while prudently managing environmental risks.