Federal Court of Appeal suspends Alberta's turn-off-the-taps legislation

VANCOUVER – The Federal Court of Appeal has granted a temporary injunction to Alberta’s so-called turn-off-the-taps-legislation.

The Government of British Columbia won a temporary injunction in the fight against the bill. B.C.’s Attorney General David Eby addressed the decision shortly after it was made.

Justice Sebastien Grammond says the legislation raises a serious issue and could cause irreparable harm to the residents of B.C.

READ MORE: Alberta judge denies B.C.’s bid to block ‘turn-off-the-taps’ legislation

He says B.C. has met the test for blocking the law until the courts can decide its validity.

The legislation gives Alberta the power to crimp energy exports from the province.

It was passed, but never used, by Alberta’s former NDP government as a way to put pressure on B.C. to drop its fight against the Trans Mountain oil pipeline expansion to the West Coast.

The new United Conservative government proclaimed it into force shortly after Premier Jason Kenney was sworn into office in April, but he had said it wouldn’t be used unless B.C. throws up further roadblocks to the pipeline.

With files from The Canadian Press and NEWS 1130

[Top photo: Pumpjacks are shown pumping crude oil near Halkirk, Alta., on June 20, 2007. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Larry MacDougal​]