'Mark my words': Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion will proceed, Alberta premier vows

The Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion will proceed despite new political pressures from B.C., Alberta Premier Rachel Notleyinsisted on Tuesday.

"Mark my words, that pipeline will be built, the decisions have been made,"Notleysaid during a news conference in Edmonton.

"There may be debate, but at the end of the day we're quite confident in our position."

Rachel Notley says the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion will go ahead

7 years ago

Duration 1:05

The Alberta premier is confident the pipeline will go ahead even with a change in the political climate in British Columbia.

Notleyfaced questions about the proposed pipeline expansion one day after a new political alliance formed in B.C, which is now preparingfor a change in government.

B.C. Premier Christy Clark's Liberal governmentsupported the pipeline. But her party narrowly wona minority governmentin the recent provincial election, andtheB.C. Green Party has agreed to support the NDP in the legislature, a move that would give them a one-seat majority government.

Both parties have voiced opposition to Kinder Morgan's Trans Mountain pipeline expansion, which would nearly triple the capacity of the pipeline that runs from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C., allowing itto carry 890,000 barrels of oil per day.

• Kinder Morgan to proceed with Trans Mountain pipeline expansion pending financing

University of British Columbia law professor Jocelyn Staceysaid the province could revoke the project's environmental assessment certificate, deny routine construction permits orintroduce laws to subject the pipeline to more assessments.

"There's lots of room for the province to sort of complicatethings, to drag things out," she said. "The more complicated this gets, then market forces take over, and this becomes afinancial calculation (for Kinder Morgan investors) whether the project goes ahead."

Notley said the expansion project is vital to the Alberta economy,and to the interests of the entire country.

Sheseemed unconcerned that anew B.C. political alliance couldderail the project. No province can veto the pipeline, she said.

"I don't know that itmakes a great deal of difference," saidNotleyof the new alliance. "Our view of the matter, and one that I think will be supported ultimately in the courts, is that thedecision has been taken and it was takenby the federal government.

"It was taken by a federal government that was committed to balancing and driving towards two goals at the same time, environmental sustainability and economicgrowth."

• Trudeau stands by decision on Trans Mountain pipeline despite B.C. result

Notleyreiterated her commitment to the project. Alberta officials, she said, will continue to "use the means at our disposal to ensure that the project is built." The Alberta premier said she remains confident the message will eventually be well-received on the West Coast.

Politicians who chooseto block the project would be ignoring the economic benefits.

"The province of B.C. can't grow solely on the basis of escalating housing prices in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland," said Notley. "They need stronger economic growth. And the reality is, in the interior of B.C. they need the jobsthat this pipeline will provide.

"You'd be surprised how quickly the issue of ensuring people have good jobs becomes front and centre to responsible governments that care about working people."

Trudeau restates support for pipeline

Notley's comments echoed those made Tuesday byPrime Minister JustinTrudeau.

Trudeau, speaking in Rome, defended the federal government's decision to approve the $7.4-billion project.

"The decision we took on the Trans Mountain pipeline was based on facts and evidence, on what is in the best interests of Canadians and indeed, all of Canada," Trudeau said.

"Regardless of the change in government in British Columbia, or anywhere, the facts and evidence do not change."

Kinder Morgan has said it will proceed with thepipeline expansion as long as it secures enough financing for the project through its initial public offering, which is set to closeWednesday.

The Calgary-based company expects tobegin construction for the project in September, with a completion date set for December 2019.

Despite growing political uncertainty, industry leaders are confident the company can address any concerns about the safety or environmental impacts of the project a new government may have.

"I think that that project is very well-positioned right now, now that it's weaved its way through its approval," said TimMcMillan,presidentand CEO of the Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers. "The federal government has given it cabinet approval, there's the prime minister, he's clearly said he's in favour of it.

"I think our goal will be able to continue to engage with both governments and with the citizens of our country to ensure that big projects like this are successful."