Jason Kenney says he’s unafraid to turn off oil taps to B.C. over pipeline

MEDICINE HAT – United Conservative Leader Jason Kenney says if he were Alberta’s next premier he would bring in a law to turn off the oil taps to British Columbia and wouldn’t be afraid to use it.

In a speech to supporters in Medicine Hat, Kenney said the NDP brought in legislation after pressure from the UCP but never proclaimed it or used it.

“We’re going to tell the New Democrats in B.C. the same thing we say to Albertans, which is that we’re actually prepared to turn off the taps,” he adds. “Not as a rash or immediate measure but as a point of real-leverage against their continued campaign of obstruction.”

Kenney says he would proclaim the law on his first day on the job if his party were to be elected on April 16.

RELATED: Alberta passes legislation to cut off oil supply to BC at any time

He says he would make it clear that Alberta would be prepared to scale back exports of its crude to B.C. refineries if the government there continued to obstruct the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.

Kenney says gasoline prices have hit an all-time high of $1.67 a litre in B.C. and predicted they would remain high if Alberta were to turn off the taps.

B.C.’s Attorney General, David Eby, says if that happens, the province is not afraid to battle the issue in court.

“We have been concerned about the constitutionality of that legislation since it was introduced in Alberta’s legislature. Our government is prepared to act through the courts if they proceed in that way,” Eby said in a statement to NEWS 1130.

Earlier Monday, NDP Leader Rachel Notley said she’s confident the pipeline expansion will be approved by the federal government by the end of May.