British Columbia has announced it will head to court by month end to clarify the province91裸聊视频檚 jurisdiction over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

Also Wednesday, the CEO of the pipeline91裸聊视频檚 builder, Kinder Morgan said the events of recent days have reinforced his concerns about the viability of the $7.4-billion project.

Steve Kean said during an earnings report that the company suspended work on non-essential activities earlier this month because the investment may be 91裸聊视频渦ntenable for a private party to undertake,91裸聊视频� and recent days have 91裸聊视频渃onfirmed91裸聊视频� those views.

The construction project has been the subject of growing friction, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau summoning the premiers of Alberta and B.C. to Ottawa for talks and Alberta introducing legislation designed to restrict fuel shipments to B.C.

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Kinder Morgan set a May 31 deadline to determine if the expansion will go ahead, prompting Trudeau91裸聊视频檚 Liberals to start private, financial talks with the U.S.-based company.

Premier John Horgan said his New Democrat government91裸聊视频檚 reference case will be filed in B.C.91裸聊视频檚 Court of Appeal by April 30 and it will seek to clarify the province91裸聊视频檚 rights to protect its coast and economy from an oil products spill.

He said the reference case could have implications in provincial-federal relations that go beyond the current dispute.

91裸聊视频淲e believe we have jurisdiction to protect the interests of British Columbians,91裸聊视频� Horgan said at a news conference to announce government housing development initiatives.

91裸聊视频淥ur neighbouring province disagrees with that, the federal government disagrees with that,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚n my conversations with the prime minister over the weekend he said, 91裸聊视频榃hy can91裸聊视频檛 we work this out now? 91裸聊视频� I said, 91裸聊视频楾hat91裸聊视频檚 fine, you and I can work this out but what about the next government in Ottawa or the next government in Victoria and on and on and on?91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频�

Horgan also raised concerns about Indigenous rights over the project. More than 30 First Nations along the pipeline route have agreements with the company, but others are in opposition.

91裸聊视频淚 just reject the notion that this is a majority-rule situation,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淭hese are rights and title holders and those rights and title holders have to be acknowledged and have to be respected.91裸聊视频�

Jim Carr, federal Natural Resources Minister, said the government in Ottawa is looking to introduce legislation to reassert Canada91裸聊视频檚 constitutional authority to build and expand pipelines.

The federal government has repeatedly rejected B.C.91裸聊视频檚 invitations to join the reference case, saying it already has authority over pipelines.

B.C. Environment Minister George Heyman said Wednesday the province believes it has the right to protect its environment and economy from an oil products spill.

91裸聊视频淭he process is about B.C.91裸聊视频檚 right under the Constitution to regulate against the deleterious impacts on the environment, on the economy, on provincial interests of a project, whether it91裸聊视频檚 an interprovincial project or a provincial project.91裸聊视频�

Attorney General David Eby said the province will take its case to the B.C. Court of Appeal, the highest court that it is able to refer such questions under the province91裸聊视频檚 Constitutional Question Act.

The details of the action and the question or questions the government will ask the court to determine are still being worked out by lawyers and must be approved by the New Democrat government91裸聊视频檚 cabinet, he said.

Eby said the province is aware of the time factors involved and is hopeful of a speedy ruling.

91裸聊视频淓verybody wants clarity around this so we91裸聊视频檒l be moving and we are moving as quickly as we can,91裸聊视频� he said.

Alberta91裸聊视频檚 government said B.C.91裸聊视频檚 legal move is just another pipeline roadblock.

Alberta Energy Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd said the law around the issue has already been settled and that it91裸聊视频檚 clear the federal government has the final say on interprovincial pipelines.

91裸聊视频淭hey (the B.C. government) continue to play political games,91裸聊视频� she said.

91裸聊视频淭hey continue to try to frustrate investors (and) erode investor confidence, but what I can say is we are prepared to pull the rug out from under them.91裸聊视频�

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She said the rug allusion refers to ongoing talks with Alberta and the federal government to buy into the pipeline project to ensure it gets completed.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province is preparing to introduce oil restriction legislation similar to Alberta91裸聊视频檚, which is likely to send fuel prices in B.C. sky high.

The Canadian Press

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