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Route to Kitimat ‘too complex,’ says Premier Danielle Smith
Catherine Garrett · CBC News
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Kitimat, B.C., is no longer an option for her proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast.
Speaking at a news conference Thursday, Smith said the route would be “too complex.”
The premiers have been gathered in Ottawa this week for the first ministers’ meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
“Kitimat, it’s not on the table as one of the ports we are looking at,” Smith said. “There’s too many channels to navigate.”
The community was one of the destinations along B.C.’s northern coast being considered for the route.
The local Haisla Nation has backed a liquefied natural gas (LNG) pipeline in the past, but opposed a bitumen one, which is what the proposed pipeline would be carrying. Smith and Haisla Chief Maureen Nyce met in November.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told reporters Thursday that she is not considering Kitimat, B.C., as a port for the proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast as detailed in an agreement with Ottawa. Smith said she’s weighing other options for the route, saying ‘we’re willing to go in every direction.’
Speaking at the same conference, Carney said Ottawa’s memorandum of understanding with Alberta states that the purpose of the pipeline is to get oil to Asian markets, but doesn’t specify what route it needs to follow.
“Of course, work is being done to explore the feasibility of various routes,” he said.
Factors like Indigenous support and technical and economic considerations also affect feasibility, he added.
Smith said she is looking for a deepwater port “that does not require a lot of additional navigation.”
“So, we are doing our work to put the project together by June,” said Smith.
“We are hoping that the federal government can move swiftly on making a decision so we can get down to technical details on that.”
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