Premier Moe to face B.C.’s Horgan at western premiers meeting

Premier Scott Moe won’t mince words about pipelines when he gets time with his B.C. counterpart John Horgan.

The two are attending the premiers meeting in Yellowknife.

Notably absent is Albert Premier Rachel Notley who is remaining in Edmonton to focus efforts on getting the Trans Mountain pipeline project started before Kinder Morgan’s May 31 deadline.

Alberta and Saskatchewan are locked in a battle with the B.C. government after it launched a constitutional challenge to the pipeline.

Alberta has now launched legislation to stop the flow of oil to B.C. and Moe is prepared to do the same.

“Yes I am, we have always said we will not be filling those oil tanks to B.C. if Alberta turns theirs off,” Moe said in an interview with Gormley Wednesday morning.

Saskatchewan’s premier added he is happy to reiterate that to Horgan in person.

Despite it being federal jurisdiction and approved by the prime minister, Horgan and his government argue the province should have a say in how much oil flows through the pipeline.

Moe replied that isn’t the case.

“We need our prime minister and our federal government to step forward and fill the jurisdiction they rightfully have to ensure that we don’t lose access to our national coastline,” Moe argued.

Moe has long maintained the lack of pipeline access to the coast hurts the Saskatchewan economy and in turn, the Canadian one.

“Last week oil peaked over $70 a barrel, our producers in Saskatchewan (are) still receiving about $50 to $55 dollars a barrel, the differential is just tremendously challenging to our economy,” Moe said.

Pipelines aren’t the only discussion of interest at the meeting with money for healthcare high on the agenda for the premiers.

The meeting wraps up on Wednesday.