Ottawa still searching for Trans Mountain buyer, says new natural resources minister

Ottawa's ownership of the Trans Mountain pipeline will be short lived, vowsnewly-appointed Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi.

"We are not in this for the long haul,"Sohisaid. "Our goal is to remove the political uncertainty, get this project underwayand once that political uncertainty is dealt with, we will explore options of transferring these assets back to the private sector."

The Trudeau government continues to lookforabuyer to take on thepipeline aftercommitting in Mayto buythe project, which is facingstaunch opposition in B.C.

"Those discussions will happen but they will happen in private, in a confidential atmosphere and setting because we cannot negotiate those kind of commercial deals in the public."

Those discussions will happen but they will happen in private- Amarjeet Sohi

The federal government committed in Mayto buying the projectafter Kinder Morgan issued an ultimatum and a drop dead date.

According to Kinder Morgan the deal willclose late this year or early in 2019, butthe federal government has said it expects tocomplete the dealin August.

Sohi declined to comment on the final purchase price.

"Our focus is to make sure that we get Trans Mountain expansion pipeline built,"saidSohi, anEdmonton MP and formerinfrastructure minister.

"Those numbers will be disclosed once those negotiations are concluded," he said."What I can tell you is, our government investing directly in our economy is nothing new."

• Liberals to buy Trans Mountain pipeline for $4.5B to ensure expansion is built
• Kinder Morgan Canada sees 45% drop in Q2 earnings as Trans Mountain deal progresses

Sohi reiterated a promise that the pipeline expansion will bebuilt on schedule.

Canada istoo reliant on U.S. markets to sell its oil and the coastal pipeline expansion is key to diversifying markets, Sohi said.

"The $15 billion we lose every year because we only have only one customer and we have to sell our oil at a discounted price is unacceptable to our government," he said.

"We will make sure the Trans Mountain gets built so we can expand our markets."

• Trudeau cabinet shuffle brings new faces, several changes for run-up to 2019 campaign
• Mixed reactions as Edmonton's Amarjeet Sohi appointed to pipeline portfolio

Sohiwas sworn into his new roleWednesday, leaving somepundits wondering if he will be able to find his bearings in the portfolio beforethe election is called next year.

He said his roots in Alberta have made him well acquainted with the politics of oil and gas, but he will be working for the benefit of all Canadians.

"I have a very good staff," he said. "I am familiar with the different components of this portfolio."