Alberta, BC sign framework agreement for west coast pipelines

Alberta and British Columbia have announced a framework agreement that will see the two provinces cooperate to make bitumen pipelines to the West Coast more acceptable. Under the agreement, the projects must meet world-class standards for spill response on land and at sea, must involve First Nations’ participation, and must involve a fair share of the economic benefits for BC residents. BC will not seek a share of Alberta’s royalties. “We believe in sustainable development, we’re committed to First Nations consultations, we know that it’s important the best interests of that province are taken care of,” said Alberta Premier Allison Redford. Al Monaco, CEO of Enbridge Inc., says he sees momentum shifting in favour of his company’s controversial Northern Gateway pipeline, with the agreement between Alberta and BC. Northern Gateway would carry 525,000 barrels of oilsands crude per day from the Edmonton area to the West Coast port of Kitimat, BC, to be shipped by tanker to Asian markets. A smaller, parallel line would flow in the opposite direction, carrying imported diluent, a petroleum product used to thin bitumen so it can move through pipelines.