The Premier is shrugging off arguments from lawyers representing the federal government that the province is overreaching with its efforts regulate oil and gas shipments through its lands and waters.

Speaking on NL’s Inside #bcpoli Premier John Horgan says he is watching the reference case closely and is not bothered by the federal government’s argument in court that B.C.’s efforts are an overreach and a “Trojan horse.”

“That lawyer is being paid by the federal government to make those arguments and good for him or her. I don’t know what else the federal government can do. It is a federally regulated pipeline I understand that. The jurisdiction is pretty clear on that but what has been unclear for a long long time, not just on this question but broadly speaking, is who has jurisdiction over environmental protection.”

Horgan says the responsibility for environmental protection is an issue at play in other areas of the country.

“It wasn’t contemplated by the founders of Canada when they wrote up the British North America Act. And it wasn’t changed in any meaningful way when the first Trudeau government brought back the constitution in 1980-82. This is an area of dispute not just in this case but in many cases across the country.”

The province in court is arguing it is not attempting to block the Trans Mountain pipeline but rather protect against any environmental or ecological harm from a spill.