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CALGARY – Alberta’s energy minister linked British Columbia’s support for the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion to Alberta’s support for a B.C. Hydro electric dam during a speech Tuesday.

Minister Marg McCuaig-Boyd said it is possible for pipeline giant Kinder Morgan Inc. to address British Columbia’s concerns over its plan to expand a pipeline network between Alberta and metro Vancouver to carry an additional 590,000 barrels of oil per day at an estimated cost of $5.4 billion.

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In exchange, McCuaig-Boyd repeated earlier statements that her province would be open to purchasing electricity from B.C.’s planned Site C hydroelectric project, which is estimated to cost $8.8 billion.

“Both Premier Notley and I have been clear – if a pipeline to the West Coast cannot be secured to expand our energy markets it is unlikely we will need to import electricity from British Columbia to power our industry,” McCuaig-Boyd said.

gmorgan@nationalpost.com

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