The provincial Conservative party released an eight-page report Thursday afternoon explaining its support for the proposed Northern Gateway pipeline.
The document titled We strongly support the Northern Gateway Pipeline - and here's why, makes an economic case for the $6.5 billion project to connect Alberta's oilsands with Kitimat.
"The Northern Gateway Pipeline will not solve our economic problems by itself," the report says. "But as part of a comprehensive strategy to open up carefully regulated resource development in northern B.C. and the interior, it’s a start to creating the kind of prosperity that will keep our young people in B.C. for generations to come."
The report acknowledges many of the environmental concerns opponents of the project have brought to light, but the Conservatives believe the pipeline is safe and that if there was a spill the province wouldn't be on the hook for the clean up costs.
Meanwhile, Premier Christy Clark spoke out in favour of David Black's refinery plan in the legislature on Thursday. Black is proposing a $25 billion project to ship diliuted bitumen from Alberta to a refinery his group will build in Kitimat, the oil would then be shipped to foreign markets.
Clark said Black's pipeline would still need to meet the five criteria set out by the provincial government which deal with environmental, First Nations and economic concerns. She said the upwards of 3,000 permanent jobs the refinery could create bolsters the economic case for the project.
Clark's government has been critical of the long-term economic benefits the Northern Gateway project would have for B.C.
"But the difference between the first pipeline proposal [Northern Gateway] and Mr. Black's is that the refinery in Kitimat could form part of the economic benefits needed to satisfy our fifth condition," she said in the legislature. "Although I do need to be clear - although it could form a part of that, it will not go all the way. Thousands of jobs could create a significant economic benefit that does not exist under any current proposal."
