Premier Alison Redford said Tuesday British Columbians are free to debate the merits of the controversial Northern Gateway pipeline proposal.

But the B.C. government can’t make Alberta energy royalties a bargaining chip when it comes to whether the $5.5 billion project goes ahead, she told reporters in Vancouver.

Redford spoke at the Canadian Bar Association’s annual Canadian Legal Conference Tuesday morning but had no meetings with Premier Christy Clark or any other member of the B.C. government.

Alberta and B.C. are embroiled in a dispute over Northern Gateway after Clark demanded a “fair share” of the economic benefits of the project, including a potential slice of the energy royalties that would come to Alberta.

That was flatly rejected by Alberta and at a tense Council of the Federation meeting in late July. B.C. refused to take part in provincial discussions around Redford’s call for a

Canadian energy strategy.

“It’s entirely appropriate for people in British Columbia to have a discussion with respect to whether or not this makes sense for people in British Columbia,” said Redford in a recording of a media scrum posted online by her communications staff.

“What I’ve been saying as premier of Alberta is that it’s important for us all as political leaders to work together to ensure there is access to international markets and that there isn’t any particular province that should get more access or less access to international markets based on a geographical location.”

If approved by regulators, the project by Calgary-based Enbridge will carry oilsands crude to the B.C. coast and Asia-bound tankers, opening vital new export markets for Alberta crude.

Redford said she expected there would be discussions with B.C. in the future but noted that other provinces are onside with the Canadian energy strategy idea.

“We have every other premier across the country understanding the importance of the energy economy and understanding that it’s important for all Canadians that we do work together,” she said.

jwood@calgaryherald.com