Trudeau speaks with John Horgan after federal pipeline purchase
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has spoken with John Horgan about the federal government’s plan to purchase the Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion project for $4.5 billion, Trudeau’s office confirmed in a statement.
Trudeau spoke with Horgan “to confirm that the Government of Canada has reached a commercial agreement with Kinder Morgan in order to secure the timely completion of the… project,” the statement said. “The Prime Minister confirmed that the agreement will guarantee the resumption of work for the summer construction season and protect thousands of jobs.”
During the call, the federal government said Trudeau “reiterated” the federal government’s jurisdiction over interprovincial pipelines, and noted that the Government of Canada “is confident that, with this agreement, it is upholding the trust Canadians have placed in the government to both grow the economy and protect the environment.”
Horgan spoke about the call as well, during a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Asked whether or not the pipeline issue is a personal one between him and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the BC Premier said that has never been the case.
“He has responsibilities as the leader of the Government of Canada and I have responsibilities as the leader of the Government of British Columbia.”
Horgan said the federal government’s decision was “motivated by a private company, who gave a deadline – not to me, and not to the people of British Columbia – but to someone they characterized as stakeholders.”
The federal government, he continued, “has responded and that’s their business.”
Trudeau also spoke with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley about the decision.
“The Prime Minister expressed appreciation for Premier Notley’s continued support for the project, and confirmed that the agreement will guarantee the resumption of work for the summer construction season and protect thousands of jobs,” said the Prime Minister’s Office, in a release.
The Alberta government announced its support to the project in the form of a backstop that would be called upon in unforeseen circumstances.
During the call, Trudeau acknowledged Alberta’s “commitment to get the job done.”
– With files from Simran Singh
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