This is a huge example of how much elections matter!
The previous British Columbia Liberal government [in American terms, this party is centrist, right-leaning] under former premier Christy Clark approved the pipeline earlier this year, saying the project had met a list of conditions including consultations with First Nations, environmental projections and a "fair share: of economic benefits for the province.
However, the B.C. NDP [New Democratic Party] campaigned to halt the $7.4-billion project. Stopping the Kinder Morgan pipeline project was also a part of the NDP-Green confidence [i.e. alliance] and supply agreement in the minority legislature.
According to B.C.’s new Environment and Climate Strategy Minister George Heyman, parts of the existing pipeline are on land privately owned by Kinder Morgan, but most of it passes through Crown land and First Nations territory.
“Employing every tool available to the new government to stop the expansion of the Kinder Morgan pipeline is a key commitment in our Confidence and Supply Agreement," B.C. Green Party Leader Andrew Weaver said in a statement.
He also said in the B.C. Green caucus' view, the National Energy Board process that led to the approval of the pipeline was "profoundly flawed."
"Government has a responsibility to base major decisions affecting the lives and livelihood of so many people on sound evidence, and in the case of TransMountain that standard was not met."
Halting the expansion was also a key campaign promise for Premier John Horgan, who has said he'll use "every tool in the toolbox'' to stop the project. Construction on the expansion project was scheduled to start in September.
B.C.’s Attorney General David Eby, along with Environment Minister George Heyman made the announcement on Thursday at a press conference. “Our government made it clear that a seven-fold increase in heavy oil tankers in the Vancouver harbour is not in B.C.’s best interests. Not for our economy, our environment, or thousands of existing jobs.”
“We are committed to use every tool to defend B.C.’s coast [from] threat of tanker traffic,” said Heyman.
Global News Canada: Trans Mountain Pipeline is not in B.C.’s best interest says BC NDP government
ChekNews: B.C. government hires outside counsel to begin Trans Mountain pipeline legal challenge
Canada News: B.C. hires outside counsel to begin legal challenge of Trans Mountain pipeline project
Especially interesting info about the former Supreme Court judge who will lead the legal case against the pipeline: The Globe and Mail: Indigenous rights advocate to guide B.C. in Trans Mountain pipeline challenge