The federal government will provide billions of dollars in support for B.C. projects and guarantee that the North Coast tanker restrictions will remain in place in exchange for a commitment not to oppose a new pipeline from Alberta to the coast. “We will not be going to court to fight a pipeline project,” B.C. Premier David Eby said in Vancouver on Thursday, July 2. “Instead, we will ensure we fulfill our constitutional obligations in good faith.” “Pipelines are federal jurisdiction. That’s why this agreement matters.
It ensures that the Northern Tanker Ban stays in place.” Projects receiving federal funds will include the Massey Tunnel, the Red Chris mine and the North Coast Transmission Line project, which is being built to electrify mines and liquefied natural gas projects. Other commitments include revitalizing ports, boosting forestry, steel and LNG sectors, and collaborating on new clean power projects. Eby returned early from a trade mission to China to appear alongside Prime Minister Mark Carney in Vancouver to announce the agreement and sign a
memorandum of understanding. The estimated total federal support is around $20 billion. Carney said the North Coast Transmission Line will get about $3.5 billion, and the Massey Tunnel will get up to $3 billion. In addition, the federal government will support $10 billion in upgrades to the Roberts Bank port terminal and invest about $500 million in the Red Chris mine. The two sides also committed to working on a national carbon credits framework and implementing environmental protections for coastal ecosystems. “We’re also clear that
today’s Canada-B.C. agreement will maintain the federal North Coast tanker ban in accordance with a proposed route of a new trans-provincial pipeline under the bilateral agreement with Canada and Alberta,” Carney said. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is set to announce details of her province’s pipeline proposal in the afternoon. Carney will fly to Alberta for that announcement and said he would not reveal details until then. Eby pushed back on the notion this agreement is just a response to the Alberta deal. “To look at
this as an Alberta agreement is again to do a disservice to British Columbia and the remarkable and incredible growth that is happening here in this province,” he said. “This is a B.C. agreement about B.C. projects.”
George Massey Tunnel replacement, North Coast tanker ban, David Eby, Mark Carney, Danielle Smith, North Coast Transmission Line, Roberts Bank port terminal, Red Chris mine, pipeline commitment, memorandum of understanding, B.C. agreement
So basically theyre buying silence with billions? Sounds sus.
I don’t get how “not suing” keeps tankers banned… like if the pipeline still happens, won’t they just change the rules later? Also $20 billion is insane.
Wait, Massey Tunnel gets like $3 billion right? But the article says pipelines are federal jurisdiction so BC can’t fight it anyway? Then why are they making deals and memorandums like it’s a school project. Alberta’s gonna announce the pipeline and it’ll somehow override this, watch.
“Ensure we fulfill constitutional obligations in good faith” sounds like PR talk. They say they won’t go to court but that’s just the first step, right? Meanwhile Roberts Bank upgrades?? Feels like everything is connected and nobody’s actually protecting the coast like they claim.