The Alberta government has taken its next step in the ongoing dispute between its province and British Columbia. Alberta has taken out a full page advertisement in the Vancouver Sun, Province newspaper, Victoria Times-Colonist, the Globe and Mail and the National Post pointing fingers at NDP premier John Horgan and his B.C. government.
“The B.C. government is now trying to break the rules of Confederation and ignore the national climate plan, choosing to agree with only parts of the federal decision,” reads the ad. “The disregard for the rule of law puts our national economy in danger.”
The full page ads cost the Alberta government approximately $62,000.
Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has been demanding British Columbia back down from considering a restriction of the flow of bitumen that travels in pipelines across B.C. Any restriction in bitumen would make it impossible for Kinder Morgan to proceed with the Trans Mountain pipeline twinning.
WATCH HERE: Bitumen battle now a wine war
The Alberta government is now asking British Columbians to ask the B.C. government “to come back to Confederation and the rules of our country.” As part of the going dispute, Notley directed the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission to “immediately halt” the import of B.C. wines. The move has led to British Columbia filing a formal complaint under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement.
Part of the ad campaign is the argument that Alberta and B.C. share similar goals, although the two governments disagree. The goals include tackling climate change and helping Canada move to a greener economy.
“Canada succeeds when Alberta and British Columbia succeed,” reads the ad. “British Columbia is the second-largest net contributor to the Canada federation, sending $886/person more than received. Alberta is the largest at $5,148/person. Canada will fall if Alberta and British Columbia fall.”