Vancouver Sun Editorial Board

Opening Comments
Thank you for inviting me here today. Its a real pleasure to be in
British Columbia.
As you might know, I used to live here, both my children were born
here, and I try to get back as often as I can.
I am very much looking forward to our discussion today, but before I
take your questions, I hope you wont mind if I start with a few opening
comments to begin the conversation.
Last week, as everyone knows, the federal government made an
important decision for the future of the country.
The approval of the Trans Mountain Pipeline subject to 157 tough
conditions is, in my view, a major step forward for our national
economy and the well-being of communities throughout Canada.
The reason is obvious. Canadas energy industry is hugely important to
our economy.
In 2015, the oil and gas sector contributed 10 per cent to Canadas GDP.
And almost a quarter million Canadians, in every part of the country,
rely on a thriving energy sector to raise their families and put food on
their tables
That is true in Alberta, as it is in British Columbia.
Our province's economies are linked in so many ways.
In 2012, 44,000 people who lived and paid taxes in British Columbia
worked in Alberta. They earned more than $2 billion. I expect most of
that money was spent here in this province.
And of course, Alberta makes an enormous contribution to BC's thriving
tourism industry.
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So British Columbians and all Canadians share in the bounty of a

thriving energy industry.
We also share a deep environmental ethic.
Canadas environment is part of our DNA. It helps define us as a country
and a people.
That ethic extends beyond our borders to the threat climate change
poses to the planet, and, quite frankly, the future of our species.
The question before us is how to marry our environmental values with
the need to support jobs and economic opportunity for our kids and
grandkids.
In Alberta, that question is particularly urgent.
And my government was elected, in part, on a commitment to address it
head on.
In many ways we took our lead from British Columbia.
You broke new ground in 2008 when the province instituted a carbon
levy as part of its climate commitments.
A decision that helped set the stage for the Climate Leadership Plan
my government brought in last year.
Albertas Climate Leadership Plan is a significant departure from the
approach of previous Alberta governments.
It was built on the central idea that to move Alberta forward, we had to
stop shouting at each other from our respective corners and come
together to have a thoughtful and respectful conversation about climate
change and the future of our energy industry.
It certainly wasnt easy. But it was necessary work.

And we learned something important: that when we have the

conversation, we can make real progress.
The energy industry, leaders in the environmental community, First
Nations, and ordinary Albertans worked together a plan that establishes
a carbon levy, caps emissions, phases out coal, reduces methane, and
incents the development of renewable energy
A made-in-Alberta plan that is the most aggressive and
comprehensive response to climate change anywhere in North America.
In the context of that plan, my government has also pursued a goal that
has eluded past Alberta governments: accessing tidewater for our chief
commodity.
Again, we took and are taking a fundamentally different approach.
Instead of pointing fingers and shouting, we have worked to bring
people together in a thoughtful and respectful conversation about why
this is critically important both to our economy and to achieving our
climate change goals.
People often ask: how can building a pipeline and tackling climate
change be part of the same strategy? Arent they mutually exclusive
goals?
A very good question, the answer to which highlights a key feature of
our climate plan.
Because we are capping emissions, it is important to know that with or
without the Trans Mountain Pipeline, emissions remain the same. They
will not go up.
In other words, our Climate Leadership Plan effectively de-links
pipelines from increasing GHG emissions.
This is an important point for me to make in my conversations with
British Columbians and Canadians.

I also want to highlight the fact that the Trans Mountain Pipeline allows
Alberta the opportunity to move towards a lower-carbon economy.
Why is that?
Because right now, without access to tidewater, Alberta is forced to sell
its oil products to one customer the United States --at one price.
That means we are taking a financial hit on every barrel of oil we sell.
Thats less money for health care. Less money for education. And its
less money to grow our renewable sector and reduce our emissions.
Simply put, Alberta cannot be a climate change leader if our economy is
put in a straightjacket, unable to access new customers for our energy
products.
And that means we have to trade through this region....Canadas
gateway to Pacific...
...a gateway for trade that is is critically important to a national economy
where 20 per cent of exports come from oil and gas.
It doesn't make any sense to not get the best price.
To do that, we must be able to strategically access the most costeffective markets.
International investors tell me that they question Canada's international
investment appeal because of our inability to engage as sophisticated
sellers of an important product to international markets.
I submit we must do better in Canada.
Now of course, access to tidewater means access to British Columbias
coast.
And British Columbias coast is a national treasure. Every Canadian
wants to know that its protected.
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Every year, thousands of commercial ships travel the coast safely and
reliably, adding tens of billions of dollars to our economy.
This is a port city one of the worlds most important port cities and
you are experts in promoting trade while protecting marine ecosystems
Thats because British Columbians are vigilant about our countrys
coastline.
I wouldnt want it any other way.
The Federal Government's commitment of $1.5 billion is a huge step
forward.
To be clear, concern about marine mammal safety is real with or
without a 6 per cent increase from overall Canadian ship traffic -- and
the federal government recently suggested that there is evidence that
ship noise from ferries, freighters and container ships is actually a more
significant issue for marine mammals.
And ship traffic is expected to increase regardless of the Trans Mountain
Pipeline.
Either way, however, Ottawa has invested $1.5 billion in marine safety
that would not necessarily have been there otherwise.
In other words, there is a net improvement in safety.
And that is good for Canada's west coast.
But, of course, I understand and appreciate why many British
Columbians have concerns and questions about the Trans Mountain
pipeline.
And I understand why you are looking for assurances and action to
ensure BC sees meaningful economic and environmental benefits from
this project.

So that is why I am here today. Because it's a big part of my

responsibility to come to British Columbia to explain why I believe that
the Trans Mountain Pipeline is good for jobs and our national economy,
safe for the environment, and critical to helping meet Albertas climate
change goals.
As I have said before, this is a process. It will take time. And we wont
always agree.
But if our conversation is thoughtful and constructive, I believe that we
will build a new project that is in the interests of all Canadians and that
shows that world-class environmental standards and an economy that
benefits working people can go hand in hand.
Thank you