Premier Scott Moe addresses reporters at the Legislature.
The province of Alberta has introduced legislation which, if passed, would see the province greatly restrict exports of oil and gas to their western neighbour.
This latest move in the dispute comes after Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, British Columbia Premier John Horgan and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sat down in Ottawa Sunday morning to iron out the issues, but were not able to do so.
Premier Scott Moe spoke Monday following Question Period and said he fully backs the Notley government’s move, noting they’ll be introducing legislation to much the same thing in a “number of days.”
“I think it’s something that Saskatchewan will look at very closely, and if not mirror, being something similar here from the province of Saskatchewan.”
Moe also noted they’ll be asking the opposition to support the legislation they’ll be presenting.
“We’d like to pass it this session and as quickly as possible,” said Moe. “In the event Alberta moves on their legislation and does turn off the taps to British Columbia that Saskatchewan won’t be filling those fuel tanks up.”
Moe hopes things do not progress to that point, as he hopes the federal government uses their “tools” like infrastructure funding to push this the pipeline through.
That’s something the Official Opposition leader Ryan Meili partly agrees with.
While does he agree the Trudeau government needs to take charge on this issue, he doesn’t believe it’s necessary nor right for Saskatchewan to retaliate.
“I don’t think at this time it’s appropriate for us to be taking retaliatory measures,” said Meili.
“This is a federal issue and we should be demanding leadership from the federal government.”
