Provincial ministers heading to Ottawa to push for energy legislation changes
Posted September 25, 2018 12:37 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Premier Rachel Notley was on hand for the opening session of the 2018 International Pipeline Conference on Tuesday morning in Calgary.
In a speech to those in attendance, Notley stated her government’s resolve to move ahead with projects like the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion and increasing the market for Alberta oil products.
She spoke to reporters afterward and again talked about the importance of projects like Trans Mountain going forward.
“Albertans manage energy. That is an Albertan birthright. And under no circumstances are we going to, in this government, see that right be undermined. So we are very determined to ensure that we maintain our agency over energy development.”
Notley says there have been many productive conversations underway between provincial and federal ministers, but she has not seen enough progress yet from Ottawa to ensure the expansion is built.
Due to that, she will be sending ministers to Ottawa to push for changes in federal legislation that would overhaul energy project reviews.
It’s concerning Bill C-69, and Notley will be sending Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd and Environment Minister Shannon Phillips to the Senate to make Alberta’s case.
“To be clear, I support (the Federal Government’s) intent. But, you need to really engage carefully and make sure that you don’t kill yourself with good intentions. You’ve got to be very clear that what you’re doing also is going to work, and that’s what our job is, to make sure it is going to work,” said Notley.
Looking ahead to a possible worst-case scenario, Notley would not speculate on any sort of legal action in case there is not any progress from the Federal government.
“I’m not quite ready yet to file the statement of claim. I think we’re going to have a good, public conversation about what this means and how it needs to be improved, and that’s where we’re going to do that. I think we’ll get to threats a little bit later down the road.”
-with files from the Canadian Press
