Payback or coincidence? Pipeline tensions between Alberta and B.C. ramp up

B.C. Premier John Horgan. (Chad Hipolito/Canadian Press)


While the federal and Alberta governments denied Wednesday they were moving in retaliation, B.C.'s Opposition Liberals are pointing to the coincidence of a steady stream of obstacles.

B.C.'s decision to halt increased shipments of the diluted bitumen until further environmental studies are concluded saw Alberta cut off talks to purchase $500 million worth of electricity from B.C. and then ban the province's wine imports.


Alberta takes on B.C. over pipeline tolls

As the task force met, Alberta's Department of Energy issued a statement saying a recent regulatory dispute with B.C. over natural gas pipeline tolls is not connected with the Trans Mountain conflict.


"Our filing has nothing to do with the recent dispute with the government of B.C.," said the Alberta statement. "The filing is consistent with Alberta's past positions relating to fair and just toll principles as well as consistent, well-established and accepted pipeline tolling principles."

The Alberta government's denial of retaliation comes as the federal government dismissed claims that pipeline politics contributed to last Friday's abrupt postponement of a joint B.C.-Ottawa child-care funding news conference.


"This is in no way connected to B.C.'s position on Kinder Morgan, and will have no impact to the amount or terms for the province," said Mathieu Filion in an e-mailed statement. "We will have more to say regarding rescheduling the announcement with B.C. in due course."


Katrina Chen, B.C.'s minister of state for child care, said she didn't know the reason behind the postponement, but said she's proud to be part of a government standing up for the province's interests.

Officials in B.C. Premier John Horgan's office said the dispute over the $7.4 billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project was not mentioned when federal officials pulled out of the child care announcement.

'Alberta has the upper hand'

Opposition Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson said pipeline fight could end up costing B.C. thousands of jobs.

"It's an exceptional coincidence," he said, referring to the recent actions by the Alberta and federal governments. "Premier Horgan has picked a fight he can't win. Alberta has the upper hand."


Horgan accused the Opposition Liberals of supporting Alberta rather than B.C., "because they're petty, they're partisan and they don't have the provincial interest at heart."



— With files from Mia Rabson in Ottawa.


