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VANCOUVER — British Columbia’s attorney general says the NDP government will not artificially delay permits for the Trans Mountain pipeline, despite the premier’s vow to use every available tool to stop the project.

David Eby says he’s been tasked by Premier John Horgan to identify options to halt Kinder Morgan Canada’s $7.4-billion expansion of its Alberta-to-B.C. pipeline, which has already been approved by the federal government and the recently defeated B.C. government.

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Eby says the province cannot deliberately stall on permits without risking a very costly lawsuit, but it can make the permits require construction to be done in a way that minimizes spills and protects the environment.

Trans Mountain declined to comment on Eby’s remarks but says it’s involved in an ongoing process of seeking and receiving permits from the necessary agencies.

Energy law expert James Coleman says because the NDP has been so explicit about wanting to stop the pipeline, it now has to be very careful to avoid appearing as though it’s deliberately delaying the project or acting in bad faith.

Horgan said in Ottawa today that he hasn’t yet been briefed by Eby but has met with several First Nations who have filed lawsuits against the project.