BC, Alberta relations tense at Western Premiers Conference
Posted May 23, 2018 3:39 pm.
Last Updated May 23, 2018 3:41 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
YELLOWKNIFE (NEWS 1130) – BC’s ongoing dispute with Alberta over the fate of the Trans Mountain pipeline is hurting other big ticket issues at the Western Premiers summit in Yellowknife.
Today’s wrap-up news conference has been tense.
Premier John Horgan says Rachel Notley‘s refusal to take part hasn’t kept him and other western leaders from having good discussions about national pharmacare and the legalization of marijuana.
He’s also shrugging off attempts by the fellow NDP premier and her staff to reject his belief Notley was once his friend.
“Acquaintance versus friend–knowing someone for decades, sharing values. They did invite me to the swearing in of their government. I went gleefully and enjoyed myself. Maybe, I’m just an acquaintance,” he says.
“I haven’t spoken with Premier Notley since we were in Ottawa and prior to that, it was back in February, so I think the tone between the two of us is strained without any doubt.”
Only a week before the May 31st deadline set by Kinder Morgan to possibly pull the plug expansion, Horgan is not saying what BC will do if his government loses a legal battle over jurisdiction.
“We are in court. We are awaiting the outcome of those proceedings and make other decisions at that time.”
Alberta Deputy Premier Sarah Hoffman–who attended the Western Premiers Conference in Notley’s place–has refused to sign the final agreement at the meeting because it doesn’t include support for the project.
Hoffman says her government cares about consensus on national Pharmacare and other key issues including infrastructure funding, but right now, nothing’s more important than the pipeline.
“I don’t disagree with other initiatives that were discussed in the communique, but we need those jobs.”
She also made a point of saying money for Pharmacare doesn’t grow on trees.
