Former British Columbia premier Christy Clark says efforts by the province's NDP government to stymie an interprovincial pipeline are illegal and will hurt all of Canada.

Speaking to a gathering of conservatives in Ottawa, Clark says changing the rules partway through a project will make companies think twice about investing and creating jobs in Canada.

"In this country, we set rules. We set goal posts. And you can't change them halfway through," she said to a well-attended event at the Manning Networking Conference.

"It's not just about the pipelines. It's not just about natural gas. It's about all of the jobs and all of the people who are going to find themselves out of work when investors around the world don't want to come to Canada anymore."

Kenney calls for action against B.C.

B.C. has called for more consultation on oil spill readiness related to the expansion of the Trans Mountain Pipeline, which would triple the oil flowing from the Edmonton area to the west coast.

Rachel Notley's Alberta government has responded by ending the import of B.C. wine, an industry that was valued around $72 million last year.

On Friday, Notley unveiled a task force to defend Alberta from what she describes as an unconstitutional attack.

United Conservative Party Leader Jason Kenney has applauded Notley's retaliation against B.C. and called for further actions, including imposing tolls on natural gas that flows to the United States through Alberta.

Speaking on Saturday at the Manning conference, Kenney called out B.C. for undermining Trans Mountain, describing the besieged project as emblematic of a more widespread campaign against Canada's energy sector.

"That industry, that engine of our prosperity is under massive attack," Kenney said, singling out B.C.'s "anti-development" government as a leader in the anti-energy movement.

"This industry has helped to raise countless Canadians up from despair to hope and opportunity," he added.

The federal government has already approved the $7.4-billion project, which could multiply tanker traffic seven fold along B.C.'s heavily populated South Coast.