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In a joint statement, Canada’s premiers said removing the per-capita cap and giving back payments retroactively from past years are possible remedies.

It was one of four priorities where the provincial heads found consensus.

The premiers also agreed to “continuing to develop resources in a responsible manner” and ensure Canadian products can access markets. The British Columbia and Quebec governments oppose expansion of oil pipelines, such as the federally owned Trans Mountain expansion pipeline from Edmonton to Burnaby, B.C.

Photo by CARLOS OSORIO / REUTERS

Alberta wanted backup on C-69 opposition

In addition, the premiers agreed to push the federal government for improvements to environmental assessments for large natural resource projects. Bill C-69, proclaimed into law in late August, replaces the National Energy Board with a new regulator and changes rules for project approvals.

In September, the Alberta government launched a court challenge of Bill C-69, saying it’s unconstitutional.

Last week, Alberta’s Finance Minister Travis Toews wrote to his federal counterpart, Bill Morneau, asking for several of the changes that the premiers consented to on Monday.

He said in 2015, when oil prices plummeted and the province’s revenue tanked by $7 billion, Alberta transferred a net $24.8 billion to the federal treasury, but received just $251 million in relief through the fiscal stabilization program.

Had there been no per-person cap, Alberta would have qualified for $1.6 billion in relief that year, Toews said.

“I believe with all of the premiers making this recommendation, it provides considerable weight to our argument, and I’ll be pressing this issue as hard as I can,” Toews told reporters in the legislature on Monday.