By The Canadian Press

Notley unhappy no appeal on Trans Mountain, willing to let process play out

Oct 3, 2018 | 3:03 PM

EDMONTON – Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says she’s not happy with Ottawa’s decision to let stand a court decision that has stalled the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

The federal government has instead appointed former Supreme Court justice Frank Iacobucci to oversee a new round of consultations with Indigenous communities.

“Albertans can be forgiven for being extremely frustrated with the way the federation is working right now,” Notley said bluntly during a media availability Wednesday in Edmonton, “because there is a high level of jaw-dropping hypocrisy that is being demonstrated through that process.”

Notley says she understands Ottawa’s view that this is the best way to break the logjam over the multibillion-dollar project aimed at getting more Alberta oil to tankers on the B.C. coast.

The Federal Court of Appeal put a hold on the expansion in August and said the government needed to assess the project’s impact on marine life and further consult with Indigenous groups.

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Natural Resources Minister Amarjeet Sohi says the government does not intend to start the consultations over again, but will use them to address the weaknesses the court identified.

Notley says the government should keep all options including an appeal open and that the province will be watching how the resumption of consultation with First Nations proceeds.

“If they stick to that February deadline, then we’re going to give it the opportunity that it needs.

“If we start to see those deadlines slip, that is where you’re going to see us engaging every effort that we possibly can to push the federal government. But at this point, we have to let this process play out.”

(With file from Dean Bennett, The Canadian Press)

by The Canadian Press

Notley unhappy no appeal on Trans Mountain, willing to let process play out

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