A dispute between Alberta and British Columbia over an oil pipeline project is showing the worst in Canadian politics.
At issue is the future of a federally approved $7.4-billion pipeline project.
B.C. Premier John Horgan has threatened to block the Kinder Morgan pipeline expansion project, and in response, Alberta Premier Rachel Notley has said she plans to introduce legislation to restrict the flow of oil, gasoline and diesel fuel into British Columbia.
This is not the first time the two provinces have been at odds over the pipeline project.
In February, Alberta banned the sale of B.C. wines in that province in response to B.C.’s position on the pipeline. That embargo has since been lifted.
Canadians will have strong opinions for or against the proposed pipeline expansion, and not all will agree on whether the project should proceed. The differences of opinion between the Alberta and British Columbia governments shows this much.
However, the behaviour by the premiers appears childish and petty. They present Canada as a weak country, riddled with internal strife and bickering.
This is not the image any of us wishes to portray on the world stage.
The pipeline may have been the catalyst which resulted in the interprovincial dispute, but the problem now is something much more serious.
Bickering between premiers is not an appropriate way to resolve disagreements.
The Alberta-B.C. dispute, as it has played out so far, has resulted in escalated tensions and heightened emotions without a tangible solution.
And while Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has instructed his finance minister to enter negotiations with Kinder Morgan, the dispute between Alberta and British Columbia remains unresolved.
It is time for the premiers involved to back off on the threats, sit down together and have a calm, reasoned discussion.
In other words, it is time for the premiers to behave like responsible adults.