From my @CBCEdmonton colleague — construction staging has already begun on the ground in Alberta ahead of cabinet's Trans Mountain decision later this afternoon. #cdnpoli
@CBCEdmonton The prime minister, flanked by ministers Morneau Sohi, McKenna, Wilkinson and Garneau, will make an announcement on the Trans Mountain pipeline at 4:30 p.m. ET. Watch this space. #cdnpoli
We've just had the (embargoed) technical briefing. The PM should be up shortly to announce the cabinet's decision on Trans Mountain. Stand by. You can watch LIVE here: cbc.ca/1.5178438 #cdnpoli #TMX
BREAKING | Trudeau cabinet approves Trans Mountain expansion project. CBC.ca/1.5180269 #cdnpoli #hw
The cabinet has affirmed the National Energy Board's conclusion that, while the pipeline has the potential to damage the environment, it's in the national interest and could contribute tens of billions of dollars to government coffers and create & sustain thousands of jobs.
Beyond approving the project, Trudeau also committed to directing every dollar the federal government earns from the pipeline — which, when built, is estimated to be some $500 million a year in federal corporate tax revenue — to investments in unspecified clean energy projects.
Any proceeds from the eventual sale of the pipeline will also be earmarked for projects that would help with the transition away from fossil fuels to cleaner sources of energy.
The federal Liberal government said Tuesday it will now begin the process of meeting with Indigenous groups who are interested in buying the project. Ottawa has said it does not want to own the project long-term.
A senior government official, speaking on background to reporters ahead of the official announcement, said while there are still a number of permits and regulatory hurdles facing the controversial project, the government expects construction work to start sometime in 2019.
"There's six months left in 2019 and I think it's fair to say shovels will be in the ground in 2019," the official said. "Plans are being drafted up, regulators are ready to move forward."
Our full, updated write thru on today's TMX decision with comment from @JustinTrudeau @AndrewScheer @theJagmeetSingh @ElizabethMay @aboutpipelines @tsleilwaututh @RAN and @envirodefence Link: cbc.ca/news/politics/…
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