Premier David Eby said Alberta’s push for a new pipeline is a threat to existing major projects in B.C.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith wants a pipeline carrying Alberta bitumen to the Port of Prince Rupert on B.C.’s north coast.
Eby was interviewed on the Herle Burly podcast before wrapping a two-day trip to Ottawa on Thursday.
He reiterated there’s currently no proponent for a new pipeline.
Eby said the tens of billions of tax dollars that would go toward a publicly funded pipeline would be better spent on other major projects.
“It does make me a little crazy that real projects are being put in jeopardy for shadow boxing about a non-existent project coming out of Alberta,” he told host David Herle.
“I do have to put my foot down and say, enough. Until you have a real project, please stop. You’re jeopardizing actual, real projects in British Columbia for no reason other than partisan, culture war purposes, and it’s a bit much,” Eby said.
A new pipeline was not among Prime Minister Mark Carney’s initial list of major projects the federal government is considering for fast-tracking under the new Major Projects Office.
Smith’s reaction was upbeat, despite no Alberta projects making the list. She said she’s hopeful that some of Alberta’s major projects be included in the next tranche of projects.
She has called on the federal government to change policies she says prevent Canada from attracting proponents of future pipelines, including the ban on oil tankers in northern B.C. waters.
A letter to the federal government released Monday and signed by dozens of Canadian energy sector leaders echoes those calls to repeal the tanker ban, along with other regulatory changes to speed up project timelines and grow production.
Eby said back-tracking on the tanker ban is a “red line” for B.C.’s coastal First Nations. He said crossing that line would mean First Nations’ support for coastal LNG facilities and other projects like the Port of Prince Rupert expansion would “evaporate overnight.”
Eby met with Prime Minister Mark Carney and senior cabinet ministers during his two-day trip to Ottawa, largely promoting more major B.C. projects. He was joined on the trip by Finance Minister Brenda Bailey, Jobs and Economic Growth Minister Ravi Kahlon and Forests Minister Ravi Parmar.
The Premier’s Office said public safety, immigration, border security, and bail reform were also key topics of discussion.
