The federal government’s decision to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline project from Kinder Morgan is not an ideal situation, but at least now there has been some action and a decision has been made.
That from Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce CEO Steve McLellan who says 96 per cent of respondents in a membership survey support the completion of the pipeline and the federal government using every reasonable tool to ensure it gets done.
The government has announced spending $4.5-billion to purchase the pipeline project from Kinder Morgan so it can be twinned.
The company had said earlier this year it was considering dumping the plans to twin the pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby because of the opposition from the B.C. government and from environmental activists and Indigenous groups.
McLellan says it’s not the first time the federal government has stepped in to help, and he gives the examples of the auto industry in the east and oil exploration further east in the Maritimes.
He believes this deal is important to Canadians.
In the short term, it will enhance the price we get for oil which is a good investment for the government and in the long term, McLellan is confident a buyer will come forward to take over from the government because pipelines are money makers.
There are also short and long term impacts on Saskatchewan.
With EVRAZ in Regina providing much of the steel for the pipeline, Saskatchewan workers will benefit and once the pipeline is up and running, it will take some of the pressure off of the supply chain, freeing up transportation by other modes.
Saskatchewan Chamber On Side With Federal Government Buying Pipeline Project
By Carol Thomson
May 29, 2018 | 11:58 AM
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