Trudeau needs to step up to defend pipeline, Alberta premier says

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley says the prime minister needs to tell British Columbia's government that their attempts to stall the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion are unacceptable.

Earlier this week, Justin Trudeau vowed to stand his ground on the expansion as Alberta feuds with B.C. over the pipeline networks from Alberta to the West Coast.

B.C. Premier John Horgan proposed temporarily banning increased shipments of diluted bitumen in an attempt to delay the construction.

But Trudeau is pushing forward, regardless.

"We're just going to reiterate that the decision we made was in the national interest and we're going to move forward with that decision, which means we're going to get the Trans Mountain pipeline built," he told CBC Edmonton on Thursday.

But Notley told The House that she wants more than words.

"He absolutely needs to back up his words with actions," she said. "He can start by telling B.C. that they have no right to hold Alberta and Canada's economy hostage."

She explained as long as the pipeline is under siege, it "creates huge investor uncertainty."

"If Canada wants to present itself to the world as a country that is capable of creating jobs and attracting investments, then it needs to be able to present itself as a country that, when a decision is made, people can count on it to be implemented."

Notley is threatening economic retaliation and has suspended talks with B.C. about purchasing hydro from them.