Ceci factors pipeline revenue into Thursday’s provincial budget

EDMONTON- Provincial finance minister Joe Ceci says he’s counting on expected revenue from two pipelines in his plans for a balanced budget within five years.

Ceci says the budget he’ll table Thursday will be based on forecasts with anticipated revenue from the yet-to-be built Trans Mountain pipeline expansion and a replacement Enbridge pipeline to Wisconsin.

He says it makes financial sense to factor the pipelines in now, adjusting the figures in the future if need be.

Ottawa approved the Enbridge Line 3 replacement in 2016, as well as Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain expansion, which would triple the amount of crude shipped from Edmonton to a port at Burnaby, B-C.