'I'm standing up for my province': Brad Wall talks about pipeline reviews
Quebec wants to review proposed Energy East pipeline project
Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall said he is looking out for people in his province by speaking up about a proposed cross-country pipeline.
"I'm standing up for my province and the interests of families that are working in the energy sector in Saskatchewan and that's my job and I'll always do it," Wall said Wednesday in Vancouver where he was attending a meeting with leaders from across the country.
Wall is unhappy with a move by Quebec concerning the Energy East pipeline. While there are federal rules concerning approvals for such projects, Quebec also wants to scrutinize the pipeline.
Wall also spoke about how Saskatchewan has contributed to the country's equalization program.
"I've never said we should withdraw equalization payments," Wall said, noting that revenues from provinces like Saskatchewan are used to make equalization payments to provinces such as Quebec.
The Energy East pipeline, Wall said, falls under federal authority and is reviewed by the National Energy Board.
"We have the NEB process," Wall said. "It's actually been strengthened... by the new federal government. That's the process we have. And you know, as the province of Saskatchewan, that's the process we would abide by."
Wall added that Quebec deserves to have any of its questions answered through the federal approval process, but should not launch court injunctions to prevent the pipeline from going ahead.
Wall also said that oil continues to be be a needed resource.
"We know that fossil fuels will continue to be burned around the world, certainly as a transition energy, until we get to renewables. That's a fact," Wall said.
"Do Canadians want to be a part of meeting those fossil fuel needs? That's the question we have to ask ourselves," he said. "And if the answer to that is yes, then we have to build some pipelines."
With files from The Canadian Press