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On Tuesday, Trudeau said he believes the province’s voters understand that the federal government’s decision to buy the pipeline, and the project to twin it, isn’t out of step with his commitment to make the country a net-zero emitter of greenhouse gases.

“Canadians, particularly here in British Columbia, understand we need to grow the economy and protect the environment at the same time,” he said.

In fact, he argued the pipeline is part of the path forward to addressing climate change, by “opening up new markets to bring in new profits to invest in a greener future, in that transition towards a net-zero economy,” he said. “That’s what the path is.”

Trudeau has promised that any profits the government makes from owning or selling the Trans Mountain pipeline — it paid $4.5 billion to buy it — will be plowed into pro-environment measures.

He acknowledged that there are “strongly held views on both sides” of the debate over the pipeline, which has been opposed by B.C.’s premier and some Indigenous groups, and said his government would continue to work towards reconciliation.

Four-way fights among the Liberals, Conservatives, NDP and Greens makes the potential results in some B.C. ridings in the Oct. 21 vote particularly unpredictable.

Trudeau has chosen to spend some of the biggest moments of his campaign — the launch and Tuesday’s climate announcement — in the important battleground province, where his party is simultaneously fighting to win seats away from their rivals and retain the ones they have.