http://business.financialpost.com/
B.C. premier is responding with so much indifference over the distress he’s causing, that his constituents should worry about his judgment
CALGARY — In the face of widespread concern that the last remaining Canadian oil export pipeline project is on the verge of collapsing, B.C. Premier John Horgan is responding with so much indifference over the distress he’s causing, dishonesty about the facts and narrow-mindedness about his responsibilities as a leader, that his constituents should worry about his judgment.
Here are the many ways Horgan is wrong:
In a press conference Sunday after Kinder Morgan Canada Ltd. said it would suspend all non-essential activities on the project due to “continued active opposition from the government of British Columbia,” Horgan went so far as to say: “I respectfully disagree that this project is in the national interest.”
The rookie premier, head of a minority government clinging to power by a partnership with three Green MLAs, sees himself as the more appropriate arbiter of what projects should go ahead for the good of the nation than the comprehensive, multi-year reviews conducted by the National Energy Board and the federal cabinet.
“It is our view that provincial jurisdiction should prevail in many areas that are affected by this process,” Horgan said. “We said from the beginning that the NEB process was flawed.”
Should, would, could. Trans Mountain followed all the rules, and then many more imposed by his predecessor, Christy Clark. Horgan needs to accept that and move on.
For the rest of this column: http://business.financialpost.com/commodities/energy/the-many-ways-b-c-premier-john-horgan-is-wrong-about-trans-mountain