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By LORNE GUNTER

Why don’t I think the Kinder Morgan buyout proves the federal Liberals are serious about Trans Mountain?

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Since Ottawa announced on Tuesday that it was paying $4.5 billion for the existing Trans Mountain pipeline (built in 1953) and the proposed Trans Mountain expansion project, I’ve been asked by several readers why I keep saying that move does nothing to establish the federal government’s bona fides about getting the pipeline built.

First things first: Spending other people’s money is just about the easiest thing politicians can do. So, by itself, the Liberals taking a few billion from taxpayers to buy a pipeline tells us nothing about their seriousness.

The change in Trans Mountain’s ownership has not moved the pipeline one centimetre closer to completion.

Since Ottawa announced it was taking over, it has neither scared nor inspired anyone to change course. For instance, the B.C. government has not backed down from a single challenge it has launched against Trans Mountain.