Albertans 'kept in the dark' on status of Trans Mountain Pipeline review, Liberal leader says

There's too much secrecy about the status of the review underway on the Trans Mountain pipeline, Alberta Liberal Leader David Khan said Friday on a campaign stop in Calgary.

Khan says Albertans have the right to know whether the federal cabinet will make its decision by May 23 in accordance with the 90-day deadline set by the NEB in its last report.

"We have been kept in the dark on this important project. Alberta Liberals are demanding that the NDP and federal governments immediately provide an update to Albertans," he said.

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ew round of consultations with Indigenous communities — is still ongoing.

On March 13,

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Khan, who practised Indigenous rights and constitutional law, says he understands that First Nations concerns must be fully addressed.

"We know the Indigenous consultations must happen," he said.

Khan also said the province should cancel the NDP's oil-by-rail plan, calling it risky and costly.

"It won't be fully operational until July 2020. The oil industry has already said it's a bad idea. We don't want Alberta taxpayers stuck with another multibillion-dollar NDP boondoggle," he said.

Khan suggested Alberta should pursue getting the scuttled Energy East pipeline project going again.

TransCanada pulled the plug on the multibillion-dollar plan to add  of pipeline to an existing network of more than 3,000 kilometres, which would have been converted from carrying natural gas to carrying oil.

"We can replace oil imports in Eastern Canada with more ethical and environmentally-responsible, made-in-Alberta oil. We demand the feds show national leadership and restart this important project. It's a win-win-win," he said.