Canada’s natural resources minister backs Trans Mountain as B.C. city tries to halt it
Posted Nov 8, 2017 12:53 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As the B.C. municipality of Burnaby tries to halt the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from going forward, Canada’s natural resources minister is reaffirming his support for the project.
In a conference call with reporters from Paris, Jim Carr reiterated the federal government’s position that it will be good for all of Canada.
“I think it’s important that Canada knows why the Government of Canada approved the Trans Mountain expansion, I think the reasons are compelling,” he said Wednesday.
Burnaby has opted not to issue work permits for the project, prompting Kinder Morgan and the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments to ask the National Energy Board to ensure work moves forward.
The city however has insisted it’s following regulatory processes and has even asked for an apology for the suggestion it’s slowing the process down on purpose.
“I would be happy to send that message to all Canadians as I do,” he said, noting the 15,000-plus jobs it will create primarily in British Columbia and Alberta.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has announced she’ll be going on a stump tour to promote the project, as well as the overall energy industry and Carr was asked whether the feds should do the same.
“She will travel across the country telling Canadians why she thinks it’s a good idea, not only for Alberta, for all of Canada,” he said. “We share that conclusion.”
