Area United Conservative Party (UCP) MLAs Jason Nixon and Nathan Cooper both say they support new provincial legislation aimed at countering B.C. government opposition to the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
Last week the Alberta government introduced the Preserving Canada’s Economic Prosperity Act (Bill 12), which, if passed, would allow the government to restrict energy exports to B.C.
Nixon is the MLA for Rimbey-Rocky Mountain House-Sundre and Cooper is the MLA for Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills.
Margaret McCuaig-Boyd, minister of energy, says the legislation is aimed at protecting Alberta jobs and the province’s oil and gas industry.
“Every day, we’re leaving money on the table due to a lack of pipeline capacity, and that needs to stop,” said McCuaig-Boyd. “We’ve said all along there would be no surprises for our energy sector, and we’ve engaged with them throughout this process.
“The powers in this legislation are not powers Alberta wants to use, but we will do so if it means long-term benefit for the industry, for Alberta and for Canada,”
For his part, MLA Nixon says the provincial government is right to defend Alberta’s interests.
“We are in favour of Bill 12,” said Nixon. “We are looking at the details right now and may possibly make some suggestions as far as details of the bill. However, the point of the bill, giving the ability to shut off the flow of oil to B.C. if they continue their unconstitutional and illegal blocking of the Kinder Morgan pipeline, we support it (Bill 12).
“It's something we’ve been calling on the government to do for the last nine months. It’s sad that it took nine months to get to this point, but we support them doing it.”
Asked if he is concerned that the B.C. government could retaliate against the forestry and agriculture industries in this province, Nixon said, “We are concerned about any retaliation, but the problem we have is the province of B.C. is blocking us getting our largest resource to market, illegally blocking it.
“Trade wars aren’t good for anybody, but the best thing that could happen right now is B.C. just stops their illegal action and we get our pipeline built.”
For his part, Cooper said he also supports Bill 12.
“I think it is a very important piece of legislation,” said Cooper. “Jason Kenney (UCP leader) has been saying for more than nine months that this is something we should consider and an important tool for us to be able to use.
“We need to make sure we are defending the interests of Alberta and Alberta jobs and economy. This is a key tool in strengthening that.”
Asked if he believes the government should cut off fuel supplies to B.C. if necessary, Cooper said, “I think at the appropriate time they should. I think one thing we should be concerned about is that the government so far on this file has had a pretty long track record of saying one thing and doing another.”
Cooper called the Trans Mountain project a “hugely important project not just to our (Alberta) economy but to the national economy.”
B.C. Premier John Horgan has said he will take whatever steps are necessary to protect his province’s environment.
