Pipeline politics: How an NDP victory in B.C. could divide Canada's left

An NDP victory in the B.C. provincial election on May 9 a distinct possibility, if you believe the current pollswould put progressive parties in charge of Canada's two westernmost provinces.

But it could also spark a conflict with electoral ramifications in Alberta and beyond.

"It's really important for Rachel Notley that the B.C. NDP do not win," said Duane Bratt, a political scientist at Calgary's Mount Royal University.

"It is clear, although Notley is staying officially neutral she wants the Liberals to win the next election."

Why is B.C.'s election causing such intrigue across the Rockies? After all, blood is usually thicker than water.

But oil tends to overwhelm both.

No Kinder surprise

At issue is the $6.8-billion expansion of the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountainpipeline from Edmonton to a terminal on the B.C. coastless than 10 kilometresfrom Vancouver.

It was approved by the federal government in January and is supported by both provinces.

But not by B.C. NDP Leader John Horgan, who strongly condemned the approval that day, and has said the NDP will "use every tool in our toolbox to stop the project from going ahead."

Trans Mountain Pipeline: what you need to know

8 years ago

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What will the new pipeline mean for the provinces of Alberta and B.C.?

In April, Notley barred her staff and caucus from helping the B.C. NDP in its election, directly tying the decisionto the Kinder Morgan schism.

"It's difficult for them to be working for our government, and then also supporting candidates who would be opposed to the successful construction of the Kinder Morganpipeline," she said to an Alberta columnist.

It was particularly noteworthy given that Notley and Horgan worked together as NDP staffers in B.C. in the 1990s andthe number of people with B.C. NDP ties in Notley's government.NDP veterans traditionally supportprovincial campaigns across the country.

More that unites than divides

Moe Sihota, a former NDP environment minister in B.C., and current counsel for Alberta lobbying firm Canadian Strategy Group, argued that interest in the topic was confined to political prognosticators.

"The Alberta government ... are elected within their jurisdiction, and they have to act in what they perceive to be in the best interests of their jurisdiction," he said.

"The context isthat there's far more that is common within the NDP, far more that unites the NDP, than divides it. This happens to be one of those issues where there are sharp differences of opinion because of the comparison and demographic within each province."

And there are many potential issues of common ground with the Notley government should the NDP be elected in B.C.: on climate change and carbon taxes, health-care funding, pension reform and raising the minimum wage.

• B.C. NDP promises $15 per hour minimum wage if elected in 2017
• Alberta puts $15 hour minimum wage in regulations for 2018

But when the B.C. NDP was asked if it would like to name areas of agreement with Alberta,it declined, issuing a terse one-sentence statement:"John Horgan has great respect for Premier Notley, and while he does not agree with her position on the Trans Mountain pipeline, he will work with her, and all other provincial leaders, on the issues that matter to people in B.C."

Campaigning vs. governing

Kinder Morgan is not the only energy issue that could pit progressives on either side of the Rockies against each other in the coming months.

If elected, Horganwould also have a decision to make on the $8.5-billion Site C hydroelectric dam. It's been heavily criticized by environmentalists and aboriginal groups, and because it's in the opening stages of construction,could still be halted by the NDPbut the party hasn't committed to anything beyond a review.

Even if the B.C. NDPwent ahead with it, there's no guarantee Alberta would buy the electricity (an important part of the project's projections) if B.C. spurned it on pipelines.

This all becomes a moot point if the NDPrecedes in the pollsand the B.C. Liberals win a fifth straight majority government.

But if it prevails, the party'sperennial debates over the environment and economy will resonate with a much larger audience.

"It's easy for the NDP to be cohesive when they're out of power," said Bratt.

"But when some are in power, you see those breakdowns occur."

• Poll Tracker: 2017 British Columbia election
• Kinder Morgan serves notice to landowners on pipeline route
• Rachel Notley warns caucus members not to campaign for B.C. NDP