MLA Report: B.C.’s actions over pipeline shake the very foundation of confederation in Canada
By Medicine Hat News Opinon on February 23, 2018.
The need for Alberta to get its oil to tidewater so it can market our commodity internationally is absolutely essential to the province and the rest of our nation. Albertans need to be united in the demands of the federal and B.C. governments to allow a pipeline that has met the regulatory requirements to be permitted to proceed. During the 2015 general election, this government outlined in its election platform a pledge to work towards reducing carbon dioxide emissions, phasing out coal-fired electrical generation and establishing both an energy efficiency and renewable energy strategy. In 2016, Alberta passed the Climate Leadership Act meeting that pledge outlined a year earlier. Alberta and Albertans know there is a need and demand to transition to a greener system of energy generation. The B.C. government needs to understand the residents of their province — along with those in the rest of the world — still rely on fossil fuels. The B.C. government’s blocking of a pipeline from Alberta does nothing to change that reality. The impact of that action puts a significant crimp on the ability of Alberta and the rest of the country to transition to a more sustainable manner of energy production. The actions of the B.C. government have not only a detrimental effect on Alberta’s economy and efforts to be good environmental stewards but shakes the foundations of Canada’s confederation. This nation was forged by the bonds created by the trans-continental railway that allowed a free flow of movement of goods and people from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific. The Trans-Canada Highway strengthened those inter-provincial bonds when it was created 80 years later. One province blockading another’s ability to market its commodity outside its borders tears at the very fabric of these bonds which tie our provinces together as a nation. It counters the ability for Alberta and Canada to become environmental leaders in the world while making a mockery of the idea of this nation’s ability to reduce global emissions through a balanced transition to a green economy. Southeastern Alberta is poised to be the testing grounds for new renewable energy technologies which will power our farms, businesses, homes and transportation networks — technologies which can provide not just our province with environmentally responsible energy production but also those of which can be used by B.C. and the rest of the country. Alberta is developing policies that are resulting in renewable energy production which makes environmental and financial sense. This is evidenced by the record low bid price for the province’s renewable energy auction that resulted in two major job creating projects announced for southeastern Alberta last year. The B.C. government’s blockage of Alberta oil will not end the world’s need for fossil fuel. It will simply shift production of fossil fuels to jurisdictions without any transition plan and result in more environmental degradation. Albertans need to be united on all fronts in our efforts to get this province’s oil to tidewater. Bob Wanner is MLA (NDP) for Medicine Hat constituency. 20-19
