Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Jody Wilson-Raybould listens to a question as she speaks to reporters following Question Period in the Foyer of the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2018. Wilson-Raybould says the federal government will intervene in the British Columbia court case over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Justice Minister Judy Wilson-Raybould says the federal government will intervene in the British Columbia court case over the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.
The province has put a jurisdictional question before the courts, asking whether it has the authority to regulate the transport of heavy oil in the province.
The expansion of the pipeline, which would carry diluted bitumen from Alberta to the B.C. coast for export to overseas markets, is supported by the federal government.
The province, however, has vowed to fight the expansion by any means at its disposal, as have environmental groups.
The federal Liberals have made the pipeline a key component of its plan to grow the economy while protecting the environment.
Wilson-Raybould says she is confident that Parliament has the jurisdiction to approve the project.
