Canada’s PM vows to move forward with pipeline plans despite protests

Justin Trudeau has said Canada’s government is prepared to use taxpayer dollars to push forward plans for controversial Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion.

The move comes despite protests and efforts by a provincial government to halt the project on environmental grounds.

Canada’s government had only 24 hours notice that it would be thrust into a political and economic crisis by an ultimatum from Kinder Morgan to resolve the impasse or it would walk away.

The deadline left Trudeau scrambling for options in a dispute that could damage his re-election chances.

Just last week, Trudeau interrupted a foreign trip to meet the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia, reiterating his government’s determination to see the project completed.

“The Trans Mountain expansion is a vital strategic interest to Canada − it will be built,” he told reporters after the meeting.

The prime minister said the project – which would nearly triple the flow of Alberta’s bitumen to the west coast – is in the national interest.

“It means good jobs in Alberta, they’ve suffered tough times. It means good jobs in BC, thousands of them as the pipeline is built.”