By Geoff Smith (@smithco on Twitter) with files from the Canadian Press

Notley says B.C. can’t block Trans Mountain

May 30, 2017 | 7:14 AM

ALBERTA – Premier Rachel Notley says British Columbia has no right to prevent the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion from going ahead.

In an early morning statement issued Tuesday, May 30, just a day after B.C.’s New Democratic and Green parties announced an agreement to oust the Liberals and form a minority government, Alberta’s premier said the province will use “the means at our disposal” to ensure the already approved pipeline twinning goes ahead.

Despite expressing confidence that her NDP government can work with a John Horgan-led government in B.C., the statement points out they disagree in one important area. Both the B.C. New Democrats and Green Party oppose the expanded pipeline connecting Alberta with the Pacific coast.

“(P)rovinces do not have the right to unilaterally stop projects such as Trans Mountain that have earned the federal government’s approval,” Notley said in the statement. “This is a foundational principle that binds our country together. There are no legal tools available to provinces to stand in the way of infrastructure projects that benefit all Canadians.”

Notley said the pipeline project is critical to both Alberta’s and Canada’s economy and has safety measures to protect the west coast as well as Alberta’s own climate plan, and the project was approved by the federal government and National Energy Board following a rigorous review.

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Horgan says he expects unanimous support from his NDP caucus for the agreement with the Green Party, which was expected to be signed Tuesday afternoon. Their parties have a combined 44 seats, while the incumbent Liberals won 43 in the election May 9.