B.C.’s Premier is responding to the ‘turn off the taps’ legislation in Alberta.

John Horgan says he received assurances from Alberta Premier Jason Kenney his government will never use the legislation in a pipeline dispute with B.C.

“He said he had no plans to use the bill but felt since it was a key election commitment he would proceed with it. Regardless our lawyers today filed two actions in court to strike down the bill because we believe it is unconstitutional.”

Although Kenney would later dispute that on Twitter.

Horgan also seemed frustrated by a claim by Kenney B.C. is withholding permits from the Trans Mountain pipeline.

“Mr. Kenney who has been on the job for a day and is just decompressing from the high rhetoric from campaigns is saying something that is not correct. If you ask Ian Anderson, the former CEO of Kinder Morgan, he will tell you as he has in the past that we were not thwarting permits in any way. We were in existing court cases and we launched a reference case to protect our jurisdiction.”

While he called Alberta’s Bill 12 unfortunate Horgan opened the door to trying to find solutions revolving around assurances more refined product would flow in the pipeline to alleviate high gas prices.

“We are going to sit down with people and work out what is in the best interests of all parties. That is what negotiations should be about. I believe that a new government in Alberta is an opportunity for a new beginning in that relationship.”

Horgan says increasing the flow of refined product into B.C. is in the national interest and he will reach out to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hoping he has the same view.