OTTAWA—Finance Minister Bill Morneau says the federal government will act on the Trans Mountain pipeline project in “short order,” sending the strongest signal yet that it will move to financially backstop the project to reduce the risks for its American-based backer.

Speaking after a late-day meeting with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, Morneau said the federal Liberals have the “tools” to make the contested project a reality but said the government has not yet made a decision on what steps it will take.

But he immediately ruled out one option — a referral of the legal dispute around Trans Mountain to the Supreme Court of Canada — a measure floated earlier in the day by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh as a way to clear up questions of jurisdiction.

“We don’t see a need to refer something to the Supreme Court of Canada when we already know it’s a federal jurisdiction. That, from our standpoint, is not a course of action that makes sense,” Morneau said.

Prime Minister Trudeau Justin Trudeau has declared that the project will get built, despite the opposition of the minority NDP government in B.C.

But that vow has taken on added urgency in the wake of Kinder Morgan’s announcement on Sunday that it was suspending non-essential work on the pipeline, citing “extraordinary political risks” caused by B.C.’s opposition to the expansion. The company has set a May 31 deadline to get “clarity” around the project.

Notley has already said her government is open to buying the Trans Mountain pipeline — meant to move Alberta oil to port near Vancouver for shipment overseas — to ensure the expansion goes ahead.

Morneau gave strong hints that Ottawa may intervene by providing financial assurances to Kinder Morgan, which has voiced concerns about committing additional resources to the project given the heated opposition.

Justin Trudeau says the federal government remains “determined” to see the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion built after Kinder Morgan hit pause on the project, but the prime minister wouldn’t say what Ottawa’s next steps would be. (The Canadian Press)

Morneau, who has been in touch with Kinder Morgan officials, said earlier in the day that Ottawa is “considering financial options” to ease those concerns. Speaking later, he wouldn’t provide specifics but said there was a need to “derisk” the project so it can proceed.

“We see that there are regulatory hurdles. We see that there have legal roadblocks put up for us and we see from the project proponents’ standpoint, that they’re worried about the financial risks in the project as a result of those things,” Morneau said.

He framed the issue as an economic one, talking about the need to enhance opportunities and good jobs while saying nothing about the concerns around the environment or rights of Indigenous Peoples raised by the project.

“We have to ensure that the rule of law in this country works,” Morneau said. “Those are our absolute goals and we’re going to move forward.”

The finance minister suggested Ottawa won’t wait long, saying he doesn’t want to see work stop with the summer construction season fast approaching.

“We’re thinking about as short a time as possible.”

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Federal NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh waded into the dispute Wednesday saying the federal government should work with the provinces of Alberta and B.C. along with Indigenous Peoples to refer the matter to the Supreme Court to settle jurisdictional challenges sparked by the project.

“What we’re proposing is a more streamlined process,” he said.

The federal government insists it has jurisdiction over projects that cross provincial borders. But Singh said there are “legitimate questions” about B.C.’s environmental concerns over the pipeline that need to be settled in court.

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