Theres a battle brewing between British Columbia and the federal government that could have an indelible impact on the future of Canada. It comes down to one question: Can Ottawa effectively exercise its responsibilities if the provinces refuse to recognize its authority on controversial issues?
The issue at hand is pipelines. Last fall, the Trudeau government approved Kinder Morgans Trans Mountain expansion project, which will twin an existing pipeline along a route from Alberta to Burnaby, in Metro Vancouver. The decision came after a full review of the project by the National Energy Board.
In other words, Ottawa played by the rules and approved a project of the type that the Constitution places squarely in its jurisdiction: railways, canals, hydro lines, pipelines and other infrastrcture that cross provincial boundaries.
Ottawa also has clear jurisdiction over seacoasts, navigation and shipping, which ties into issues that arise from the fact that the pipeline expansion will increase tanker traffic in Vancouver harbour and along the coast of B.C.
And Ottawa has sole jurisdiction over trade and commerce, which is what this is mostly about. Getting the crude from Albertas oil sands or any other Canadian product from any other landlocked part of the country to coastal waters where it can be loaded onto boats and shipped to foreign markets goes to the heart of Canadas ability to be a successful trader.
On top of all that, there is a clause in the Constitution that gives Ottawa jurisdiction over projects that are declared by the Parliament of Canada to be for the general Advantage of Canada.
So its clear. Ottawa has authority over the Trans Mountain expansion project. That pipeline is critical to Canadas resource-based economy. And it appears to have the support of Canadians and British Columbians, who in polls last fall consistently backed Ottawas decision to greenlight the project.
And yet its not clear at all. British Columbia is poised to be governed by the New Democrats with the support of the Green Party; the two party leaders have promised to use every tool available to prevent the Trans Mountain expansion.
Those tools are considerable. If the NDP and Greens form government, they will be able to undertake a bureaucratic guerrilla war against the project.
The B.C. provincial government could collude with municipal governments to deny needed construction permits, which would cause delays and raise costs for Kinder Morgan.
They can also rescind the previous Liberal governments approval of the project and set new conditions on it. And they could side with the plaintiffs in the many court challenges, 19 and counting, brought by environmental groups, municipalities and First Nations, that claim that the federal approval process was flawed.
The NDP-Greens are also armed with political clout. They are positioning themselves as the defenders of B.C.s coastal waters. And, by trying to block the export of crude oil, they claim to be on the side of the angels in the fight against climate change.
Thats a tough combo for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to punch against. He has promised that the coastline will be protected by strict rules that minimize the chances of a tanker going aground, but the possiblity of a spill can never be reduced to zero.
And while there is a solid three-fold argument for building the pipeline Canada has to continue to exist as a resource-based economy while it and the rest of the world transition away from carbon; oil sands crude will continue to be shipped even without a pipe, by rail; and pipelines are safer than rail there is no question that the product it transports will ultimately contribute to greenhouse gas emissions.
There are a lot of green votes at stake for the Trudeau government in the Vancouver area. The NDP and Green members know it, and they will use it to their advantage. In the end, they could kill the project by forcing delay after delay, while Ottawa, paralyzed by a fear of alienating voters, stands by.
That must not happen. Mr. Trudeau should stick to his guns and see the project through. There is a principle at play. Simply put, one provincial government should not have a veto over Canadian trade because of its geography. This has to be a national decision and that means the federal government and federal institutions.
As Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said last week, We can't be a country that says one of its two functional coastlines is only going to do what the people who live right beside it want to do.
We would go further than that. Provincial parties should not espouse the use of clever delay tactics for the sole purpose of usurping the duly exercised authority of the federal government. Trans Mountain has the law and Parliament behind it. That may not please its opponents, but their displeasure doesnt give them the power to undermine a valid federal decision.
Follow us on Twitter: @GlobeDebate
Continue reading here:
Globe editorial: On pipelines, Ottawa must have the final say - The ... - The Globe and Mail
- Recruitment - Wikipedia - January 27th, 2017 [January 27th, 2017]
- Resource-based economy and pay-it-forward | The Moneyless ... - January 30th, 2017 [January 30th, 2017]
- A Resource Based Economy - worldsocialism.org - January 30th, 2017 [January 30th, 2017]
- Trump's Flawed Logic Regarding US-Mexico Relations - Fair Observer - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Economic freedom achievable through knowledge based economy, innovative technical skill development - President - Asian Tribune - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Younger generation inheritors of knowledge-based economy: President - Lanka Business Online - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Morguard - 2017 Real Estate Investment Trends to Watch in Canada - Canada NewsWire (press release) - February 7th, 2017 [February 7th, 2017]
- Ask Yourself These Two Questions About America's Economic Future - Fortune - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- The Informal Economy and Decent Work: A Policy Resource ... - February 8th, 2017 [February 8th, 2017]
- Thunder Bay's population experiencing low growth - Tbnewswatch.com - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Substantial investment in agriculture needed to ensure enough food for all - Daily Nation - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- Can Russia project power while battered by economic woes? - Asia Times - February 9th, 2017 [February 9th, 2017]
- When will Russia finally break its 'resource curse'? - Russia Direct - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- TEA & TWO SLICES | On Giant Snow Penises And Christy Clark's Shudder-Worthy Interview - Scout Magazine (blog) - February 10th, 2017 [February 10th, 2017]
- Can Russia project power while battered by economic woes ... - MENAFN.COM - February 11th, 2017 [February 11th, 2017]
- Siemens backs Qatar''s economic ambitions with innovation - MENAFN.COM - February 12th, 2017 [February 12th, 2017]
- The 'Dutch disease' reexamined: Resource booms can benefit the wider economy - USAPP American Politics and Policy (blog) - February 13th, 2017 [February 13th, 2017]
- Charles Lawton: Here's a proposal to create real equality of job opportunity - Press Herald - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- India can't write-off coal-based energy so soon: World Coal Association - Economic Times - February 14th, 2017 [February 14th, 2017]
- The pathologies of redistributive resource transfers - Livemint - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Jessica Wright: Well-managed farmland benefits community, watershed - Conway Daily Sun - February 15th, 2017 [February 15th, 2017]
- Evaluate FLSA for its Ability to Keep Pace with Today's Workplace, SHRM Tells House Subcommittee - SHRM - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Officials hope fiber optic expansion helps diversify Decatur's economy - The Decatur Daily - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- 10th Biennial Nehalem Bay Estuary Cleanup set - Tillamook Headlight-Herald - February 16th, 2017 [February 16th, 2017]
- Howard gives Barnett a hand on hustings - The West Australian - February 18th, 2017 [February 18th, 2017]
- EDITORIAL COMMENT: Let's celebrate President's birthday with ... - Chronicle - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- Kentucky Main Street Program Communities Contributed $110M to State Economy in 2016 - WMKY - February 20th, 2017 [February 20th, 2017]
- GM, Steelcase see a web of opportunity in the circular economy - GreenBiz - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- The sputtering energy economy: Can it be revved up? - Meridian Star - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- The difference between Malcolm Turnbull and Justin Trudeau - The Australian Financial Review - February 21st, 2017 [February 21st, 2017]
- In the Face of a Trump Environmental Rollback, California Stands in ... - Yale Environment 360 - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- Report: Boundary Waters nets $77 million from summer visitors - Duluth News Tribune - February 22nd, 2017 [February 22nd, 2017]
- DENIM SPIRIT: An economy based on abundance - Finger Lakes Times - February 23rd, 2017 [February 23rd, 2017]
- HR International to hold confab on African economy - Guardian - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Event promotes innovation and technology expansion - News - Castlegar News - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- The Venus Project Plans to Bring Humanity to the Next Stage of Social Evolution. Here's How. - Futurism - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Best returns since 1900? Resource based countries, including ... - Financial Post - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Economic growth projected for Saskatchewan in 2017 | Regina ... - Regina Leader-Post - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Energy as a Model for US-Mexico Economic Partnership - RealClearEnergy - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Science and Technology: Minister says FG will harness natural ... - Pulse Nigeria - February 24th, 2017 [February 24th, 2017]
- Montana Jobs Not Well Positioned - Big Sky Business Journal - Big Sky Business Journal - February 25th, 2017 [February 25th, 2017]
- The future of WA's economy: Life beyond mining - WAtoday - February 27th, 2017 [February 27th, 2017]
- Verdant Zeal set to celebrate decade of providing media solutions - Guardian - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Lessons from Canada's scientific resistance - Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- St Ann can do better Earl Jarrett - Jamaica Gleaner - February 28th, 2017 [February 28th, 2017]
- Firm canvasses technology strategy - The Nation Newspaper - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Mandryk: Next Saskatchewan boom needs to be from our heritage fund - Regina Leader-Post - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Bank of Canada channels Al Gore - Toronto Sun - March 3rd, 2017 [March 3rd, 2017]
- Australia's economy has been growing for 25 years straight Quartz - Quartz - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- The Venus Project envisions a sustainable redesign of our cities and civilization - Inhabitat - March 4th, 2017 [March 4th, 2017]
- State's high-tech hits $1 billion economic milestone - Daily Inter Lake - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- The startup economy - Canadian Lawyer Magazine - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Nehalem Bay Estuary Cleanup - North Coast Citizen - March 7th, 2017 [March 7th, 2017]
- Pipelines to be a 'fundamental' issue for NDP leadership race: Julian - Hill Times (subscription) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Prime Minister Trudeau, no fan of the middle class - Hill Times (subscription) - March 8th, 2017 [March 8th, 2017]
- Finally, Democrats Have A Pro Wrestler In Their Corner - Huffington Post - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- WA election: Labor outlines campaign costings and debt reduction plan - ABC Online - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- WA election: Death threats, One Nation legal action, stadium stoush campaign trail action - ABC Online - March 9th, 2017 [March 9th, 2017]
- Russia, Israeli firm agree to invest $100 mln in Russia's dairy industry - Reuters - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- Maine deserves a chance to capitalize on the North Woods monument - Bangor Daily News - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- MAN, RMRDC, others to promote resource-based MSMEs,funding - The Nation Newspaper - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- Jobs, education focus of Gov. Brown's Prineville visit - KTVZ - KTVZ - March 10th, 2017 [March 10th, 2017]
- HIKE NETARTS BAYOCEAN SPIT - North Coast Citizen - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Jobs versus or for the environment? - Budgeeter News - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Canada Invests $325 Million in the Fish and Seafood Sector - Yahoo Finance - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- We are taking steps to overhaul economy through knowledge-based ... - TheNewsGuru (satire) (press release) (blog) - March 11th, 2017 [March 11th, 2017]
- Canada Invests $325 Million in the Fish and Seafood Sector - Marketwired (press release) - March 12th, 2017 [March 12th, 2017]
- Saskatchewan gender, immigrant wage gaps among widest in Canada - Saskatoon StarPhoenix - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Week in Film: Endless LOLs, an Acid Western, and Great Advice ... - Bedford + Bowery - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Famous fish the focus of 'steelhead ecology' hike - Tillamook Headlight-Herald - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- 'Explore Nature' sets Cape Lookout hike - Tillamook Headlight-Herald - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Califonria Lawmakers approve billion dollar gas tax | KBAK - Bakersfield Now - April 8th, 2017 [April 8th, 2017]
- Politics biggest determinant of economic future, says Page - Tbnewswatch.com - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Our Turn: Pass SB 129, save 900 New Hampshire jobs - Concord Monitor - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- We'll Always Have Paris: Trump's Impact On The Climate Agreement - HuffPost - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- A strategy that will make Canadian innovation flourish - The Globe and Mail - June 6th, 2017 [June 6th, 2017]
- Ocean Conference Side Events Highlight Cooperation on SDG 14 ... - IISD Reporting Services - June 7th, 2017 [June 7th, 2017]
- We must tap 'blue economy' for progress - Daily Nation - June 8th, 2017 [June 8th, 2017]
- Minnesota Power Proposes Next Step in EnergyForward Plan - POWER magazine - June 9th, 2017 [June 9th, 2017]
- What Utah's Canyon Country Can Tell Us About Trump's Monuments Review - NPR - June 10th, 2017 [June 10th, 2017]