Alberta energy minister will get final say over oil exports from province under proposed law
Alberta’s energy minister will wield the ultimate authority over crude oil, natural gas or refined fuels being shipped out of the province, under legislation tabled Monday.
Bill 12, The Preserving Canada’s Economic Prosperity Act, gives Minister Margaret McCuaig-Boyd extraordinary powers.
Under the act, the minister can decide if a company needs an export licence to send oil and gas outside our borders — and it’s up to her whether she’ll grant one or not.
Each application will be subjected to a public interest test. Once a licence is granted, McCuaig-Boyd will be able to set maximum quantities, dictate how products are shipped (whether it’s by rail, pipeline or road) and the licence period. She will also have the ability to direct an operator to cease transporting natural gas, crude oil or refined fuels altogether.
If companies aren’t happy with the minister’s decision, the appeals process means they’ll plead their case to cabinet; there are no legal mechanisms built into the act.
Premier Rachel Notley said Monday at a news conference the legislation isn’t going to be used immediately. In fact, she’s confident it won’t have to be used at all.
The tipping point will be May 31. That’s the deadline Kinder Morgan identified when it announced last Sunday it was halting all non-essential spending on the $7.4-billion Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
If the future of the project continues to look bleak, Notley said, that’s when her government might look to the legislation. In short, it will be there if Alberta needs it.
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Alberta energy minister will get final say over oil exports from province under proposed law | Edmonton Journal