A scheduled meeting tomorrow between the premiers of British Columbia and Alberta on the Enbridge Northern Gateway Project has been cancelled.
The meeting between B.C.’s Christy Clark and Alberta’s Allison Redford was to focus on the economic benefits each province would receive from the pipeline project.
But while the two leaders have met twice since Clark’s re-election in May, government negotiators have made no progress on that particular file since the second meeting.
“They thought there would be more to talk about, and there isn’t,” says Keith Baldrey, Global’s Legislative bureau chief.
“They decided to stand down for now, but they’re not characterizing as a frosty breach. It seems officials said, ‘okay, we’re continuing to talk’.”
In a statement released late this evening, Redford said that the B.C. government was asking for additional benefits that could not be negotiated with the Alberta government.
“It is now clear that BC is seeking to negotiate additional benefits,” the release says.
“While it is clear what BC is asking for, it is not clear why they think that the Government of Alberta is the appropriate partner to negotiate this with.
“If the Government of BC decides to place additional charges on industry, that go beyond the federal and provincial restrictions on responsible resource development, this is not something for the Government of Alberta to negotiate – it is for the Government of BC to negotiate directly with producers and industry.”
The two leaders clashed last year, when Clark said that five conditions would have to met for B.C. to support Enbridge or any other new heavy oil pipeline to travel through British Columbia.
Successful completion of the environmental review process.
World-leading marine oil spill response, prevention and recovery systems for B.C.’s coastline.
World-leading practices for land oil spill prevention, response and recovery systems.
Legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights are addressed, and First Nations are provided with the necessary opportunities, information and resources.
British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of a proposed heavy oil project.
– British Columbia Premier Christy Clark, July 26 2012
However, relations have thawed since Clark’s reelection. Last month the two appointed a group of senior bureaucrats to create an energy export plan, which will be delivered by the end of this year.
Redford will still be in Vancouver tomorrow to make a speech to the city’s Board of Trade.
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