Article content

British Columbia is launching a constitutional challenge against Alberta after Premier Jason Kenney proclaimed legislation to restrict oil supplies to the western province.

Kenney promised repeatedly during the election that, should the UCP win, his cabinet would proclaim Bill 12 “within one hour” of being sworn in.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or 'This law is unconstitutional': B.C. to take Alberta to court after Kenney proclaims 'turn off the taps' legislation Back to video

Neither Kenney nor his Energy Minister Sonya Savage would comment Tuesday on whether that was still the plan, but the premier confirmed in an op-ed penned originally for the Vancouver Sun (now running in the Journal and Calgary Herald) that his cabinet had charged ahead.

“We did not proclaim this law to reduce energy shipments to B.C. but to have the power to protect Alberta’s ability to get full value for our resources should circumstances require,” Kenney wrote.

“By proclaiming this law, we are showing that we are serious about protecting Canada’s vital economic interests. This does not mean energy shipments will immediately be reduced but that our government will now have the ability to actually use the law should circumstances require.”