B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan said he agrees with his Alberta counterpart on a whole range of issues — just not the expansion of Kinder Morgan’s Trans Mountain Pipeline.

Horgan, who met with Alberta Premier Rachel Notley at the start of her two-day visit to B.C. promoting the project, said the two NDP leaders had a cordial dinner Monday, but “agreed to disagree” on Kinder Morgan.

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“I understand and respect she needs to advocate for the people of Alberta,” he said. “She also understands that my job involves me standing up for what I believe is in the best interests of B.C.”

Horgan said he explained his opposition to the $6.8-billion project, which will twin the existing pipeline between Edmonton and Burnaby and triple its capacity to nearly 900,000 barrels of oil a day.

“I said that the terminus of the existing pipe in Burnaby may well have made sense in 1950, but it doesn’t make sense in 2017 to have a super-export port in the heart of our greatest city,” he said. “It is not in the public interest here in British Columbia.”

Notley relayed a similar version of her meeting with Horgan to the CBC.

“I believe that overall there are far more issues that unite us than divide us,” she said.

“This issue, however, is one where we are on opposite sides. He’s standing up for his constituents, and that’s reasonable.”

Notley later told The Canadian Press she won’t endorse a candidate in the upcoming B.C. election. She said she won’t weigh in on the provincial election as it is the forum of British Columbians, adding that she is committed to working with whichever government is in place.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau approved the expansion project last week, and B.C. Premier Christy Clark later said the federal government is close to meeting B.C.’s five conditions for supporting the project. Notley is set to meet this week with Clark.

The plan, however, faces stiff opposition from environmental groups, some First Nations and local politicians who fear a catastrophic oil spill on B.C.’s coastline. The project could lead to a seven-fold increase in tankers loaded at Burnaby’s Westridge Marine Terminal — going to 34 a month from five.

Horgan said he expressed that same concern to Notley. “I told her that I had been in Bella Bella not two months ago, where our ability to respond to a modest spill was woefully inadequate,” he said.

The pipeline issue is expected to receive considerable attention in the run-up to the May 9 election, but Horgan doubts he will have difficulty explaining the divergent views of two NDP leaders. “There are Liberal governments in Canada that have different views,” he said. “There are Conservative governments in Canada that have different views. I don’t think that’s going to be a problem at all.

“I’m going to stand up for B.C.; that’s what voters want, regardless of political stripe. And I also want to talk about more than this issue. I believe that most British Columbians want to get down to the issues that matter to them.”

He cited affordability issues, education, and supports for seniors and the vulnerable among the top of mind issues for families.

“Those are the issues that keep people awake at night, not pipelines and not politics,” he said.

Horgan said as the election approaches, he will offer a more detailed plan for dealing with the Kinder Morgan expansion should he become premier.

“We’re going to use every tool in our toolbox to protect B.C. interests,” he said. “And we’ll articulate that closer to the day and as we go forward.”