Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has created a task force of Canadian experts who will suggest ways to respond to B.C.’s “unconstitutional attack” on the Trans Mountain pipeline.
The group includes former New Brunswick premier Frank McKenna, former deputy prime minister Anne McLellan, former Syncrude Canada president Jim Carter and legal scholar Peter Hogg.
READ MORE: Alberta and B.C. left with limited options to escalate trade war over oil and wine
“In response to British Columbia’s unconstitutional attack on our energy industry and the Canadian economy, Alberta is preparing retaliatory measures,” Notley said in a news release Friday.
“The new task force is made up of leaders with deep connections throughout the country and expertise on these matters. It will help ensure Alberta’s response gets Ottawa’s and B.C.’s attention.”
Watch below: There appears to be no end is sight to the Trans Mountain pipeline dispute between Alberta and B.C. As Tom Vernon explains, Premier Rachel Notley has enlisted some help to help push Alberta’s point.
Notley previously called on the federal government to step up and assert its authority in situations of national interest.
READ MORE: Quebec activists buy up B.C. wine in ‘solidarity’ with the West Coast
“This is not a fight between Alberta and B.C. This is B.C. trying to usurp the authority of the federal government and undermine the basis of our Confederation,” the premier stressed.
READ MORE: B.C. premier says he won’t retaliate in ongoing trade fight with Alberta
“Ottawa needs to say clearly and unequivocally that B.C.’s actions won’t stand. Sadly, B.C. decided to pick this fight with the country.
“No one wants it and it could end tomorrow, but as long as B.C. continues, Alberta will fight for jobs in Alberta and speak up for a Canada that works.”
The trade dispute involves Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project and the transport of bitumen from Alberta to the West Coast.
The $7.4-billion project is federally approved. But on Jan. 30, B.C. said it planned to ban increased shipments of diluted bitumen off its coast until the province can better understand the ability to mitigate spills.
Alberta was not impressed as this move would restrict its ability to get its oil to the world market. Notley said B.C.’s regulations were illegal and unconstitutional.
WATCH: Alberta premier tells B.C. government to ‘come to Alberta’.
On Feb. 6, she announced that Alberta would be halting B.C. wine imports as a result of the dispute.
READ MORE: Trans Mountain CEO condemns B.C.’s move to restrict bitumen shipments
United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney sent a letter to Notley on Friday, asking her to call the Alberta legislature back into session as early as possible for an emergency debate on the pipeline dispute with B.C.
“I believe that all parties could work together to develop a motion for debate in an emergency session of the legislature calling for urgent federal action and perhaps other steps,” the official opposition leader wrote.
Kenney supported Notley’s decision to ban B.C. wine imports and commended her for consulting with industry and other stakeholders on the issue. He also said he’d be happy for the legislature to be recalled as early as Monday.
— With files from Global’s Katie Dangerfield