B.C. government reacts to report Ottawa favours southern pipeline route

A new pipeline from Alberta to B.C. is in the spotlight again but the preferred plan is reportedly one with a terminus in Vancouver.

The federal government is refocusing Alberta-B.C. pipeline efforts on a southern route rather than a northern option, according to a report in the Globe and Mail.

B.C. Energy Minister Adrian Dix fielded extensive questions on the report at the legislature in Victoria Tuesday, initially positive about Ottawa seemingly pivoting away from a potential northern pipeline route.

“We’ve been really clear on some of these issues,” Dix said in relation to the northern pipeline option. “Particularly, as you’ll note, on the tanker ban. And if this report indicates the federal government accepts that point of view, that’s a good development.”

Dix didn’t seem enthusiastic about a pipeline with a southern route but didn’t talk about it in the same critical tone he did while describing the northern option.

He said he understood that the federal and Alberta governments would look to pursue their visions.

“What we expect in B.C, and what we will insist on, is that British Columbia’s strong economic interests in growth and projects that are real in the present—not on paper, not speculating in newspapers, but real, in the present—receive say equal attention. Or, of course, I would prefer more [attention],” Dix said.

With Ottawa apparently shifting course but still seemingly focused on building a pipeline through B.C., environmental groups are watching on with concern.

“Regardless of whether the route is in the North or the South we don’t support another pipeline,” said Isabel Siu-Zmuidzinas with the Wilderness Committee, while saying governments should expect significant protests if a project were approved.

“I think there’s a lot better uses of our federal dollars and a lot of other projects we could be putting our energy into.”

The Sierra Club of B.C. also had concerns, and made the argument that a pipeline isn’t economically viable.

“I think it’s actually telling that we’re not seeing proponents come forward asking for a pipeline,” said David Farrell, with the organization.

“They know it’s not a good economic risk. I think the hope [from those pushing for a pipeline] is that the burden will fall on the Canadian taxpayers.”

The B.C. Conservatives also took questions on the Globe and Mail report at the legislature.

“We support a pipeline,” said interim B.C. Conservative leader Trevor Halford. “We do. And we probably support more than one pipeline. The fact of the matter is, I think British Columbia, I think Canada, would be well served with a pipeline in British Columbia.”

The Business Council of B.C. has been among the groups suggesting a pipeline would be beneficial for the national economy.

“The route is a technical, commercial and engineering question,” said Jairo Junis with the organization.

“We want the conversation to be about conditions, not about vetoes. If the technical and the commercial case points to a particular route, the question for the premier, and for Ottawa and Edmonton is what it takes to build it well.”

The report comes in the wake of the federal government signing a memorandum of understanding with Alberta in November, which laid out the path for building a potential new pipeline through B.C.