Report: Trudeau Pushes Forward With Controversial Pipeline Deal

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday said he would move forward with controversial pipeline plans despite protests and objections from the British Columbia Premier, and Canada's government was prepared to use taxpayer dollars to push the project forward, The Guardian reports.

The $7.4 billion expansion of the Trans Mountain line would lay down 621 miles of new pipe to link Alberta's oil sands to the neighboring province's Pacific Coast, a project that would nearly triple the flow of crude bitumen from the province and increase profits greatly. Alberta is the United States' largest supplier of foreign oil.

British Columbia Premier John Horgan has argued the risk of a spill in waters off Vancouver as too great, and Monday said he would proceed with a court battle. His opposition is the main reason Kinder Morgan, of Texas, halted the project a week ago and set a May 31 deadline for a resolution.

"I don't think it's any surprise to anyone that I don't think we would be in this situation if the British Columbia government hadn't continued to emphasize its opposition to the project," Trudeau said.

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