THE Government of British Columbia on Tuesday announced it has filed a statement of claim in Alberta’s Court of Queen’s Bench.
Attorney General David Eby is bringing this action, based on public interest standing on behalf of British Columbians, challenging the constitutionality of Alberta’s Preserving Canada’s Economic Prosperity Act, the Province said in a press statement.
The complete statement of claim is available online: https://news.gov.bc.ca/files/
MEANWHILE, B.C. Liberal Leader Andrew Wilkinson, Leader of the Official Opposition, slammed the B.C. government, stating: “The NDP government’s unnecessary squabble with Alberta is spiralling out of control. Today, Attorney General David Eby filed a court challenge against our neighbour, escalating tensions in a dispute that they themselves started.
“With this claim the NDP are once again saying one thing and doing another. This lawsuit is not about reimbursement of damages as Mr. Eby claimed it would be. Just as Premier John Horgan knew that the province couldn’t stop the pipeline but triggered this dispute anyway, Mr. Eby likewise knew they couldn’t sue for damages but said they would. Now he has backtracked that commitment in the claim filed today.
“We already know who will win and lose. The winners are the lawyers on both sides. The losers are British Columbians, not only because we’ll be asked to pick up the tab for yet another futile but expensive gesture, but also because the NDP has yet again embarrassed and further isolated our province within Canada.”
