Moe backs Alta., may introduce legislation to block oil to B.C.

Premier Scott Moe confirms Saskatchewan will join Alberta in a fight with B.C. over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion by introducing its own legislation on oil exports.

It is expected he will introduce legislation that could result in less oil moving to B.C.

“If Alberta’s going to pass their legislation to turn the taps off to British Columbia the next logical place for British Columbia to come for that product is Saskatchewan and we would pass legislation so that it wouldn’t be accessible,” Moe said.

“This pipeline should be built, it is unfortunate that it should come to a conversation such as this.”

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley’s government introduced legislation on Monday that would give the province power to unilaterally reduce exports of oil and natural gas.

Moe followed up with a tweet confirming Saskatchewan won’t be stepping in to fill B.C.’s oil needs.

“If a province such as British Columbia is able to stop one of these projects, it begs the question, do we still have a nation,” Moe asked.

Alberta and B.C. have been at odds over the Trans Mountain project, which was federally approved in 2016 but has been hamstrung by court challenges and permit delays in B.C.

The Alberta government maintains the expansion is critical to reducing bottlenecks that cost Canada $40 million a day in lost revenue, but B.C. continues to raise concerns about potential oil spills on its waterways and coastline.