CALGARY (NEWS1130) – Premier Christy Clark is sitting down with Alberta premier Alison Redford today in Calgary to try to set the record straight on BC’s demands on the Northern Gateway pipeline.
    
Clark is pointing at the media in Alberta for focusing just on her government’s demand for a fair share of the economic benefits from the proposed six billion dollar pipeline. Clark says it’s not just about the cash, but our air, land and water too.

“The media over there has presented this as a debate about just British Columbia’s fair share. That is not just what it’s about!” stresses Clark on Friday at the end of the Union of BC Municipalities convention in Victoria.

“In fact, the bigger issue for us is how do we protect our environment, and that’s what I’m going to go talk to them about because, clearly, I don’t think they’re getting the full message about where we stand from their own media.”

“The Albertan media has interpreted this as a way for British Columbia to get more money. It’s not,” Clark adds. “Yes we want our fair share, but we are not going to do it at the expense of our environment. This debate is about making sure we protect our environment first and foremost.”

Premier Redford has said no to giving BC a share of Alberta oil royalties from the project, arguing such an arrangement would fly in the face of the Constitution and provinces’ control of resources.

Clark and her government have said they’re open to exploring other ways to share the benefits and costs of the project, which is still being looked at by the National Energy Board’s Joint Review Panel.

BC’s five conditions on heavy oil pipelines include:

– Successful completion of the environmental review process. In the case of the Northern Gateway Pipeline, that means a recommendation by the National Energy Board Joint Review Panel that the project proceed.

– World-leading marine oil-spill response, prevention and recovery systems for B.C.’s coastline and ocean to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines and shipments.

– World-leading practices for land oil-spill prevention, response and recovery systems to manage and mitigate the risks and costs of heavy-oil pipelines.

– Legal requirements regarding Aboriginal and treaty rights are addressed, and First Nations are provided with the opportunities, information and resources necessary to participate in and benefit from a heavy-oil project.

– British Columbia receives a fair share of the fiscal and economic benefits of a proposed heavy-oil project that reflects the level, degree and nature of the risk borne by the government, the environment and taxpayers.