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Tensions are mounting between the B.C. government and Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley.

But the tightening of ties between Singh’s federal NDP and its provincial counterpart in B.C. comes as tensions are mounting between the B.C. government and Alberta NDP Premier Rachel Notley.

On Tuesday, the B.C. government announced a proposal to restrict any increase in diluted bitumen shipments “until the behaviour of spilled bitumen can be better understood.” The announcement casts more doubt on the future of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which Horgan opposes.

Notley fired back on Tuesday, saying the move is unconstitutional, and a case of “political game-playing and political theatre.”

At the federal level, Singh has said he opposes the Trans Mountain pipeline, a position Notley has dismissed. But Cullen said his new role is not an indication that the federal NDP prioritizes its relationship with B.C. over Alberta.

“I don’t see it as ranking one over the other,” he said. “A number of the campaigns that we’re interested in enhancing federally — climate change, childcare, democratic reform — B.C. is out now doing it, or now putting it in place, whereas Alberta has very much set their agenda and we’ll have different conversations with them.”

He said the federal party “celebrates” Notley’s work on climate change and labour rights, though some disagreements are inevitable.

“Our relationship with Alberta is incredibly important,” Singh told reporters on Wednesday. “If we want to achieve our climate change goals, if we want to tackle emissions, we will not be able to do that without a premier like Premier Notley.”