Harper Cold Shoulder Pushes Premiers toward Energy Deal

[Oscar]

Harper Cold Shoulder Pushes Premiers toward Energy Deal

[ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... out-harper ]

by Josh Wingrove 10:01 PM CST March 25, 2015

(Bloomberg) -- Canada’s premiers are nearing a deal aimed at clearing a path for pipeline projects in exchange for new environmental commitments, such as potential pledges to cut greenhouse gas emissions, people familiar with the talks say.

A draft of the agreement known as the Canadian Energy Strategy is circulating among bureaucrats and expected to be presented to premiers in the next few months, said the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the discussions aren’t public.

The push for a Canadian Energy Strategy began with oil-producing Alberta in 2011 and has grown to include all 13 provinces and territories. Several officials said a deal is possible by July.

“I’m very optimistic, and there’s many reasons to be optimistic,” New Brunswick Premier Brian Gallant, one of four co-leaders of the talks, said in a telephone interview when asked if a July announcement is expected.

The agreement is aimed at bridging a divide between provinces such as Alberta, which is pressing for the approval of pipeline projects, and provinces such as Ontario and Quebec who want the country to be more aggressive on emissions-reduction targets and regulations. Provinces are specifically considering whether to include emissions reduction targets, officials said.

If they do, the premiers would move ahead where Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper has not. Provinces have wide jurisdiction over environmental standards and emissions, while the federal government has jurisdiction over major energy projects that cross provincial borders, such as pipelines. A Harper spokesman declined comment.

Climate Fight

Environmental concerns and inter-provincial disputes have delayed or underpinned opposition to pipeline projects including TransCanada Corp.’s Keystone XL and Energy East, Enbridge Inc.’s Northern Gateway and Kinder Morgan Inc.’s Trans Mountain expansion. British Columbia, for instance, announced five conditions it wanted met before it backed Gateway.

A Canadian Energy Strategy was initially designed to avoid arbitrary or lengthy barriers for proposals. Quebec was the final province to join talks, and did so last year under the condition action on climate change be a part of the Energy Strategy.

“Provinces and territories are going to work together,” Quebec Environment Minister David Heurtel said in an interview. “It’s clear that sub-national states are playing a bigger and bigger role in the fight against climate change.”

MORE:

[ http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/ ... out-harper ]