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In January 2020, within the aftermath of a big court docket ruling in help of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, B.C. Premier John Horgan (of all individuals) declared, “this undertaking is continuing and the rule of regulation must prevail in B.C.”
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The Coastal GasLink pipeline is an important element of the huge LNG Canada undertaking. And certainly, with out the rule of regulation, there are not any such mega-projects.
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The latest Canadian go to by Germany’s chancellor has as soon as once more put the highlight on the necessity for Europe to cut back its reliance on Russian pure fuel and the necessity for Canada to be a worldwide participant in the case of liquefied pure fuel exports.
Whereas the LNG Canada undertaking helps us faucet into the super international demand, it’s the solely such undertaking underneath development on this nation. The present international state of affairs represents a missed alternative for this nation and, hopefully, we gained’t make the identical mistake once more.
So at this vital crossroad, does it actually make sense for Alberta to be an impediment? Do we actually need to undermine the very constitutional and authorized order essential for such mega-projects to proceed? If considered one of Alberta’s chief complaints is the shortage of power infrastructure on this nation, it hardly helps our trigger — or our credibility — to be part of the issue.
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Alberta clearly doesn’t and can’t export LNG. Our huge provides of pure fuel are an enormous benefit, however the liquefaction, storage, loading and delivery should occur elsewhere. We want companions and we have to be a accomplice.
Politicians, insurance policies and pink tape are responsible for our establishment, not the Structure or federalism itself. But, Alberta appears poised to take a blowtorch to the one a part of this entire mess that hasn’t allow us to down.
Within the case of Coastal GasLink, the B.C. Supreme Courtroom dominated in opposition to an try and reject federal regulation and jurisdiction. That call — very like the court docket resolution upholding federal jurisdiction over the Trans Mountain pipeline enlargement — was rightly celebrated right here in Alberta. It’s actually not in our pursuits to legitimize or normalize the notion that such legal guidelines or jurisdiction will be nullified.
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Canada isn’t damaged; it’s simply affected by an absence of imaginative and prescient and sensible coverage. Living proof was the prime minister’s weird remark final week a few lack of a enterprise case for East Coast LNG exports, which flies within the face of the quite a few makes an attempt by trade to proceed with such initiatives.
It’s not only a enterprise case, both. As outgoing Premier Jason Kenney just lately famous, “Canada may also help the world scale back CO2 emissions by increasing (LNG) exports, serving to the remainder of the world transfer away from coal energy. And we may also help Europe finish its dependancy to Putin’s power exports.”
Too many in Alberta have mistakenly conflated the failures of our present federal authorities into an indictment of federalism or the Structure. Thoughts you, if a snap fall election produced a Conservative authorities led by Pierre Poilievre, most of this speak about nullification and constitutional upheaval would shortly fall by the wayside. Within the meantime, although, we’re treading on doubtlessly harmful and dangerous floor.
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A latest report from the Public Coverage Discussion board makes a robust case for decisive motion, declaring that “There isn’t a cause for Canadians to really feel tentative or apologetic about our fuel if it helps clear up international issues on the best way to a net-zero world and past … That is actually a kind of occasions when the world does want extra Canada.”
“Extra Canada” first requires a shift in federal coverage, but it surely’s a lifeless finish if we enable the rule of regulation and constitutional order to be undermined.
So which is definitely in Alberta’s greatest pursuits: decisive federal management or jurisdictional and constitutional uncertainty and chaos? We can not have it each methods.
“Afternoons with Rob Breakenridge” airs weekdays 12:30-3 p.m. on 770CHQR and 2-3 p.m. on 630CHED rob.breakenridge@corusent.com Twitter: @RobBreakenridge
