Sask. Premier wants Trans Mountain pipeline to push forward

Saskatchewan’s Premier is joining the chorus of voices pushing for the federal government to do whatever it can to restart the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Speaking on Gormley Thursday morning, Scott Moe said nothing that he heard from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s meetings in Alberta on Wednesday reassured him about the future of the project.

Moe said there is a path forward for the federal government.

“They should immediately launch an appeal and start that process. I believe, secondly, they should look at an opportunity they have to satisfy what the court has determined.”

Moe said the government should embark on a “rapid and thorough engagement process.”

“They should recall their parliament and pass some legislation reaffirming their authority in the area of environmental assessment.”

Speaking in Edmonton on Wednesday, Trudeau said he knows people are disappointed with last week’s court decision which effectively stopped the project – it said the federal government hadn’t done enough consulting with First Nations in the area.

In a later radio interview, Trudeau downplayed the idea of an appeal of the decision, and later in the day said an appeal is one of many options being considered.

Moe said the pipeline is worth about $2.5B to Saskatchewan, but it’s not just beneficial to our province.

“That same benefit is then available to Canadians through programs such as equalization, through participating in constructing materials for that pipeline.”

Moe said many people, even the Prime Minister, recognize that the pipeline expansion is good for the whole country.

“This is essentially what we elect governments to do – to lead on files of national interest, such as the (Trans Mountain pipeline expansion).”

— With files from the Canadian Press