A quick two-day visit to British Columbia to sell the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion may have helped to bring down the intensity of the discussion, according to Alberta Premier Rachel Notley.
Notley said the trip to B.C., that put her in front of a number of media outlets, was put together quickly, so she could make a case for the pipeline expansion to the public as effectively as possible and as soon as possible after federal approval for the pipeline was announced at the end of November.
The premier noted that her meeting with B.C. NDP leader John Horgan, who opposes the expansion, was cordial and said she welcomed the opportunity to exchange views, facts and considerations.
"It was an opportunity for us to each commit that we would continue to have civil and fact-based, reasoned conversations about the issue," said Notley. "He didn't change his mind, I didn't expect him to."
The $6.8 billion expansion would triple the capacity of the existing Trans Mountain pipeline, which runs from Sherwood Park to Burnaby, B.C., and increase tanker traffic seven-fold.
British Columbia Premier Christy Clark acknowledged that it took courage for Notley to come to the province to promote the project.
Notley intends to sit down with the B.C. Premier in Ottawa at the First Ministers' Meeting, and while Kinder Morgan will be at the centre of discussion, Notley reiterated that royalties will not be on the table.
When asked what she hoped to accomplish in Ottawa this week, the Premier said show hoped to discuss the Pan-Canadian climate change framework and healthcare funding. Healthcare is not a formal part of the agenda, but Notley hopes the topic will be discussed during dinner with the Prime Minister.
With files from The Canadian Press
