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Saskatchewan’s threat to retaliate against B.C. in the ongoing pipeline fight further aligns it with Alberta and escalates the threat of an inter-provincial trade war, which could now include Canada’s three western-most provinces.

“It’s mostly grandstanding,” University of Regina public policy professor Ken Rasmussen said of Saskatchewan’s threat to restrict oil shipments. “It’s not a serious threat that can be followed up with any meaningful action, so it seems as though it’s good politics domestically to look like you’re all-in on pipelines here in Saskatchewan.”

Asked whether Saskatchewan would restrict other exports to B.C., such as grain, Moe said the oil restrictions were the only retaliatory measures he’s considering so far.

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley Thursday repeated threats to cut off oil shipments to the West Coast, which would send gasoline prices skyward in Vancouver because gasoline and diesel burned in the Lower Mainland arrives there via the existing Trans Mountain pipeline.

She also said new legislation would be introduced soon, giving Alberta the tools to restrict westward oil flows.

“It does sound very much like Saskatchewan is adopting a similar approach to what we talked about in our throne speech and what we will be talking about in our legislature later this term,” Notley told reporters.

“We will bring in legislation that will give our government the authority, should we need to use it, to strategically deploy our oil and gas resources,” she said, adding, “that may also result in some short term price implications to the West of us.”