Edmonton, May 29, 2018—The Alberta Chambers of Commerce issued the following statement today in support of the federal government’s announcement regarding the Trans Mountain Pipeline Expansion project:

"Under the circumstances whereby a project of this import to the national economy was at risk of not proceeding, it is a relief that the federal government has fulfilled it's duty to advance the best interest of Canadians by ensuring the expansion project will begin this construction season." 

"Now that the immediate priority to ensure construction will begin this summer is secured, the heavy lifting to restore investor and public confidence in Canada's rule of law and federal regulatory processes must begin. Notwithstanding the importance of this individual project to the Canadian economy and the jobs it means for thousands of Canadians, this outcome is far from optimal." 

"We cannot ignore the fact that these are exceptional circumstances and that efforts of the federal government to ensure the project proceeds should never have been necessary. The efforts of the Alberta government, and outspokenly supportive partners such as Saskatchewan, to hold provincial counterparts accountable to their constitutional responsibilities should never have been required." 

Canadian Chamber of Commerce: "TMX is a commercially viable project that met the test of a rigorous, scientifically sound review process and received all of the necessary regulatory approvals. Despite this fact, the project was stalled. This is another sign that we urgently need to fix our broken regulatory regime and ensure that Canada remains an attractive place to invest and do business. The Canadian economy cannot afford anything less." 

"The Alberta Chambers of Commerce urges the Alberta government to hold the federal government accountable to minimizing the costs to taxpayers, and for the federal government to lay out its plan to remove the remaining obstacles to the timely construction of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. We also call on the federal government to limit its investment in the project to the time needed to ensure its successful completion and restore the project to the private sector as soon as is practicable.”

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