British Columbia Premier David Eby has announced that he will not support a new oil pipeline running through the province. With this statement, he rejected Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s suggestion that Eby might change his mind.
Responding to Ford’s comments, Eby said that the publicly-owned Trans Mountain Expansion (TMX) pipeline is already running through B.C., and the province does not support lifting the ban on oil tankers along B.C.’s northern coast.
He added that it is not his responsibility to tell Ford that the possibility of building a tunnel under Toronto’s Highway 401 is “very slim,” nor to tell Alberta Premier Danielle Smith that her “vision” for a pipeline connecting Alberta and northern B.C. is “many years away,” especially as no viable proponent has yet come forward with interest in such a project. Eby emphasized that his job is to protect B.C.’s interests and focus on bringing “shovel-ready” projects forward.
Ford had earlier said, ahead of a meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and the premiers, that he was confident Eby and Carney would “work out” the issue concerning a second pipeline. Eby made his remarks on Tuesday from Osaka, Japan, where he is currently on a 10-day trade mission to Asia. In his absence, Deputy Premier Niki Sharma represented B.C. at the premiers’ meeting in Saskatoon.
RED FM News Desk
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