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“It is not to stop the pipeline, it is not to prevent it, it is to ensure we have the adequate protections in place for when the pipeline is built and turned on,” he said.

Notley scoffed that “is simply not true.”

Court cases galore

The latest case launched by Eby on Tuesday in Alberta’s Court of Queen’s Bench contends Bill 12 is unconstitutional.

The bill received royal assent last week. However, it won’t be proclaimed until the government settles on regulations to accompany the new law.

Notley acknowledged a court is unlikely to rule on a law that lacks regulations, but wouldn’t say whether delaying those details is a strategy to mess with B.C.

Eby said his government simply couldn’t wait for regulations before challenging Bill 12.

B.C.’s attempt to sue Alberta follows that province launching a reference case over whether or not it has the constitutional powers to restrict increases in pipeline bitumen shipments until more spill studies are completed.

If the province planned to lay down its arms once that case is complete, it would say so, Notley said.

“But they won’t say that. They know they won’t say it,” she said.

“They must think everybody was born yesterday. We can tell this is a long strategy trying to inject uncertainty into the project.”

Repeated court cases have spooked Kinder Morgan. The oil giant suspended all non-essential spending on Trans Mountain last month, and said it can’t see a way forward with the pipeline unless there’s some kind of agreement by May 31.