‘Too important to back down’: Drillers praise Notley’s latest swing in B.C. pipeline battle

JWN Energy
March 9, 2018

The Canadian Association of Oilwell Drilling Contractors (CAODC) has come out in support of Alberta premier Rachel Notley’s promise to do “whatever it takes” to ensure the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion is built, including shutting off the flow of oil and gas to B.C. 

“In yesterday's Speech from the Throne, the Government of Alberta pledged to stand against recent attempts by the Government of British Columbia to obstruct the twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline. While we sincerely hope that the Government of B.C. comes to its senses and ends its efforts to impede the expansion project, we are supportive of the Alberta government’s proposal that it will pursue a number of options, including cutting oil exports to B.C,” CAODC said in a statement on Friday.

“I want to reiterate that an ongoing trade conflict with B.C. is not a desirable outcome for anyone, but tidewater access for Canadian crude products is just too important an issue to back down from," said CAODC president Mark Scholz.

"The twinning of the Trans Mountain pipeline was federally approved in November of 2016, more than a year ago, and the NEB and federal policymakers have asserted that the project is in the national interest. We applaud the Government of Alberta’s bold leadership in standing up for Canada’s oil and gas industry by supporting critical market access for Canadian energy products."

Story: JWN Energy