SASKATCHEWAN — Saskatchewan’s premier and leader of the opposition weren’t expecting that the federal government would offer $4.5 billion to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline from Kinder Morgan.
The federal government plans to complete an expansion on the pipeline before selling it back to private interests.
“I hope this works. This isn’t likely the way I would have went about it,” said Scott Moe, Saskatchewan’s premier, during a scrum with media. “This is more of a last choice rather than a first choice.”
The premier said the federal government should have withheld infrastructure dollars to B.C. until they agreed to start the construction of the pipeline instead.
Ryan Meili, the leader of the Saskatchewan NDP, said during a conference call with rural media the pipeline was approved by the federal government and needed federal leadership to break the stalemate that’s developed.
“This is a form of federal leadership that is a bit of a surprise,” he said. “It’s a very interesting step forward and we’ll be watching it closely to make sure that it does achieve the intended goal, which is allowing the project to proceed, without any unintended consequences.”
Both Moe and Meili wondered what the final cost of construction, which would be on top of the $4.5 billion, would be for taxpayers.
The premier said he’s not sure how the change in ownership in the pipeline would get the B.C. government to relent in its opposition. He said there needs to be a plan to be put forward on how this pipeline will actually be constructed in the near future.
Moe said the province of Saskatchewan will not invest money into the pipeline and is concerned the buy-out sends a negative message to private investors.
