The Alberta-Ottawa pipeline agreement sparked the resignation of high-profile climate activist turned-politician, Steven Guilbeault, but — for the moment — BC Liberal MPs are staying quiet and out of sight.
MPs Patrick Weiler and Will Greaves, who previously expressed reservations about the Alberta-Ottawa pipeline agreement, were among at least 11 BC Liberal MPs not present for Question Period on Thursday.
Greaves told Canada’s National Observer that he will reserve his comments until Friday. Greaves previously said he and his constituents are opposed to an agreement involving a pipeline through BC and oil tanker ban exemptions, which are included in the memorandum of understanding (MOU).
A handful of Trudeau-era climate-minded Liberals were also absent from Question Period, including Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, Karina Gould and Guilbeault, who hours later issued a statement saying his resignation is a direct response to the MOU.
The day before the MOU was signed, Erskine-Smith said he was “a little skeptical” of grand bargains, having already lived through one — referring to the Trans Mountain pipeline — and he would have “lots to say” once MOU details were public. At the time of publication he had not weighed in.
It remains to be seen whether BC Liberal MPs and progressive Liberals will be emboldened to speak their mind following Guilbeault’s resignation. At least one BC Liberal is backing Carney’s MOU.
After Question Period, Liberal MP for Coquitlam–Port Coquitlam Ron McKinnon called the MOU “a positive step forward for British Columbia and for First Nations.”
“This cannot proceed without First Nations' prior informed consent, and British Columbia would not stand for this,” NDP MP for Vancouver East Jenny Kwan said when asked about the newly inked MOU. The prime minister is “creating a lot of noise about a pipeline that will go nowhere but to the courts,” Kwan told reporters after Question Period.
