Government of BC . . .  native groups . . . . protesters . . . BCers who've   
   written ministers . . . .   Did we all just make Kinder Morgan blink?   
   ___________________________________   
      
   CBC News · Posted: Apr 08, 2018 3:48 PM   
      
   Kinder Morgan puts brakes on 'non-essential' Trans Mountain activities   
   'A company cannot resolve differences between governments'   
      
      
   Kinder Morgan is suspending "non-essential activities" and related spending   
   for the Trans Mountain pipeline project, citing ongoing opposition from the   
   British Columbia government.   
      
   "In the current environment, we will not put [Kinder Morgan] shareholders at   
   risk on the remaining project spend," Steve Kean, Kinder Morgan's chair and   
   chief executive officer, said in a press release Sunday afternoon.   
      
   The company said it will, however, consult with stakeholders in an effort to   
   reach agreements before May 31 that could allow the pipeline project to   
   proceed.   
      
   The pipeline project has support from the federal government, as well as the   
   provincial governments in Alberta and Saskatchewan.   
      
   At a press conference Sunday afternoon, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley said the   
   May 31 deadline imposed by Kinder Morgan is a serious concern for Alberta, but   
   said she is confident that the expanded pipeline will be built.   
      
   Notley said she can understand the frustration of the Houston-based board with   
   "not knowing how many more legal fronts they need to fight."   
      
   But she added that this pipeline is so important to Alberta that the province   
   would consider becoming a co-owner. "Alberta," Notley said, "is prepared to be   
   an investor in the pipeline."   
      
   Notley had strong words for both the federal government and for B.C. Premier   
   John Horgan.   
      
   The federal government has delivered what she called "concrete" assistance to   
   other Canadian sectors, such as the aerospace industry, and Notley said it's   
   time the federal government stepped up to provide concrete action for the   
   energy industry.   
      
      
   Continues tensions with B.C.   
      
   "We are calling on the federal government to act on behalf of Alberta and the   
   pipelines," she said.   
      
   As for Horgan, she said B.C.'s continued resistance will not go unanswered.   
   Legislation will be introduced in coming days that will have "serious economic   
   consequences" for B.C., she said.   
      
   "Maybe the B.C. government feels they can mess with Texas — and maybe they   
   can. But let me be clear, they can't mess with Alberta."   
      
   Notley had been planning to travel to New York as part of her push to get the   
   Trans Mountain pipeline built, but that leg of the trip has now been cancelled.   
      
   On a swing through western Canada this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau   
   repeatedly cited his government's backing of the pipeline.   
      
   The company said that the active opposition from B.C. and its premier John   
   Horgan is not something it can deal with and it needs to take action to   
   protect its shareholders.   
      
   A statement from federal Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr on Sunday urged   
   the B.C. government to "end all threats of delay" to the pipeline expansion.   
      
   "His government's actions stand to harm the entire Canadian economy. At a time   
   of great global trade uncertainly, the importance of Canada's role in the   
   global energy market is bigger than individual projects and provinces."   
      
   "A company cannot resolve differences between governments," Kean said.     
      
   "While we have succeeded in all legal challenges to date, a company cannot   
   litigate its way to an in-service pipeline amidst jurisdictional differences   
   between governments."   
      
   The project would see the pipeline's capacity more than doubled to help ship   
   bitumen from the oilsands to the West Coast for shipping.   
   A trade war between provinces?   
      
   It has faced intense opposition in British Columbia and has been tied up in   
   the regulatory system and the courts for years.   
      
   The project has also led to threats of a trade war between B.C. and Alberta,   
   and there have been ongoing protests on the West Coast, particularly in   
   Burnaby.   
      
   In the news release, Kean said that the company could potentially be "risking   
   billions of dollars on an outcome that is outside of our control," a situation   
   that is not financially acceptable.   
      
   The company has entered 2018 with a focus on advancing the permitting process   
   until it achieved clarity on permits, approvals and judicial reviews.   
      
   But that isn't how things are turning out, Kean said.   
      
   "The project is now facing unquantifiable risk," Kean stated.   
      
   "Unfortunately, B.C. has now been asserting broad jurisdiction and reiterating   
   its intention to use that jurisdiction to stop the project … Those actions   
   have created even greater, and growing, uncertainty with respect to the   
   regulatory landscape    
   facing the project."   
      
   Mike Hudema, Greenpeace's climate and energy campaigner, said Kinder Morgan's   
   action is a signal of what's to come.   
      
   "The writing is on the wall, and even Kinder Morgan can read it. Investors   
   should note that the opposition to this project is strong, deep and gets   
   bigger by the day," Hudema told CBC News.   
      
   "We encourage Kinder Morgan to shelve this project before the litany of   
   lawsuits, crumbling economics, and the growing resistance does it for them."   
   ____________________________   
      
    Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, Naomi Klein join Kinder Morgan protests   
       Fort McMurray residents dubious as Trudeau waves the flag for oilsands,   
   pipelines   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)