BC’s Environment Minister says his government still believes the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion is a risky project for the province.

However, George Heyman says the courts have made it clear that the decision on the pipeline project is federal jurisdiction.

“The court did refer some of the conditions in our environmental assessment certificate back for reconsideration and we are in the process of designing that,” he said. “They did that because of changes to the original National Energy Board Certificate. The court was also clear though that that didn’t stop the project, and shouldn’t delay it.”

Despite their differences, Heyman says despite his differences with Federal Environment Minster Jonathan Wilkinson on this pipeline, they two have a common goal in mind.

“One of the things we are determined to do is to ensure that all protection measures against a spill or a clean up should one happen are in place and are robust enough to be effective, so we don’t have a negative impact on our coast, our economy or on jobs in B.C.”

Asked about permits for the pipeline, George Heyman says the province will not be withholding them, as the project is federal jurisdiction.

“We’ll do what we’ve always done. We’ve treated them evenhandedly,” he said. “There’s no bias in them, and as long as they meet the conditions for the permit and they’ve got the plans in place that are required for certain permits, and they’ve done the consultation with Indigenous nations, the permits will be issued.”

Construction on the pipeline has begun in Alberta, and work is expected to start in B.C. in the spring.