May 29 was a good day for Albertans and all Canadians, according to Alberta Minister of Transportation Brian Mason and Minister of Municipal Affairs Shaye Anderson.
The federal government announced on Tuesday the purchase of the Kinder Morgan Pipeline from Alberta to British Columbia. The Government of Alberta will invest about $2 billion into an indemnity pool.
Minister Anderson says the the investment will only be payable once oil is flowing through the pipeline. After that the investment turns into an equity stake in the project.
“This deal will unlock investment in our oil sands. We know that people across this province and in Central Alberta are involved in the oil sands through different industries,” said Anderson, adding the deal will “unlock investment across this province.”
After the announcement, Anderson said people went back to work that day in the oil sands.
“This is going to create certainty which will create more investment in this province, which means more people are going to go back to work,” said Anderson.
Minister of Transportation says there will be plenty of work that will begin immediately as there is a back log of product waiting to be sent out.
“We will see many benefits coming from this pipeline. Immediately we will see more jobs, it will stimulate to oil patch, and reduce the price differential,” Mason said.
The pipeline being built means there will be more money paid to the government for things like roads, schools and hospitals, according to Anderson.
While a start date is not yet known, Ministers Mason and Anderson believe shovel will be put to ground soon.
Minister Mason also commented on the Government of British Columbia continuing their most current court case against the pipeline.
He says the court case isn’t likely to delay progress on the pipeline.
“The Federal government is committed to seeing it through, … we are committed to seeing it through,” said Mason.
So far there have been 16 court cases from the Government of British Columbia against the pipeline, each one was unsuccessful.
Minister Anderson says the people of British Columbia have their right to speak up for their beliefs and to see it in court, but he is confident the pipeline will be built.
“They are allowed to speak up and and defend their beliefs,” Anderson said. “But, we have won 16 out of 16 court cases.”
The pipeline will also have the added benefit of allowing Alberta and Canada to send its product to other markets.
“We won’t be captive to the American market anymore,” said Mason.
Mason and Anderson said the investment by the Federal Government is something they are both “very pleased” with.
Anderson called it a “great move forward” while Mason says it will benefit all of Canada, not just Alberta.
“We have been called on by our opposition to be more aggressive. Instead we used a steady and careful strategy, where we shifted the public’s interest to our side,” said Mason, adding, “we were even able to get the public from B.C. on our side.”
“It is a good day for Alberta and for all of Canada,” said Anderson.
Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation Brian Mason. File Photo
