Minister blames ‘uncertainty’ for stalling pipeline expansion

Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr is echoing earlier Liberal statements that Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is currently on hold because of “uncertainty” involving British Columbia. The British Columbia government is denying Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's claim that it has been mum on how Ottawa should reinforce environmental protections — and offering as proof a detailed list of six demands it says were provided to the federal government in February. The list of items was provided to the federal Liberals right after B.C. warned it was considering whether to restrict the flow of diluted bitumen into the province should the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion be allowed to proceed, an official told The Canadian Press. They include: — Ensuring enough emergency tow vessels in response to increased tanker traffic off the B.C. coast. — Specific plans to respond in the event of an environmental incident related to the pipeline. — Improvements to make the pipeline itself safer. — A compensation plan in the event of a spill causing the loss of public use of a marine environment. — Improved research into the behaviour and cleanup of spilled diluted bitumen.