With the fight between Alberta and British Columbia over the proposed expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline becoming more and more heated by the day, the possibility of a major trade war breaking out between the two provinces now seems within the realm of a possibility.
Whether a reasonable and mutually beneficial solution to the increasingly bitter standoff can be found remains anyone’s guess.
What is known is that every Alberta community, including those in this region, could be impacted, and maybe impacted a great deal, by any future economic war between the two western jurisdictions.
For her part, Premier Rachel Notley has made it crystal clear that she is prepared to use her full legislative power to make the British Columbia government back down in the fight.
Last week Notley’s majority government introduced legislation that, if passed, would ramp up the fight over Trans Mountain to a wholly new level.
That legislation would give the government the authority to require companies to obtain a licence for the export of energy products such as gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, natural gas, crude oil and other refined fuels. Export restrictions could also be imposed on pipelines, as well as rail and road transport of oil and gasoline.
If implemented, such legislation could very quickly cause massive gasoline and other fuel cost hikes across B.C., driving up prices across the board, including for food.
“This is about protecting the jobs and livelihoods of thousands of Albertans and our ability to keep Canada working. It’s simple, when Alberta works, Canada works,” said Notley.
“We did not start this fight, but let there be no doubt we will do whatever it takes to build this pipeline and get top dollar in return for the oil and gas products that are owned by all Albertans.”
Whether Alberta’s latest steps in the Trans Mountain dispute will cause B.C. Premier John Horgan to back down or step up the fight is the question everyone is now asking.
- Singleton is the Mountain View Gazette editor
