What's really behind the premiers' 'framework agreement'

Yesterday I met with the premier of Alberta, Alison Redford. I am happy to report that in the course of our brief chat we were able to reach a historic accord in support of the Northern Gateway pipeline. It is possible you may be wondering what on earth any of this has to do with me, and why my support should make any difference to the pipeline's chances one way or the other. You might well ask. Indeed, you might well ask the premier the same question. While you're at it, you might ask the premier of British Columbia. The two premiers have just concluded a "framework agreement" that is widely reported as having some significance for Northern Gateway. Quite what it means to say they are now agreed is a bit of a mystery, since they were never actually disagreed. None of the "five conditions" Christy Clark set out last year as the price of her support for the project touch upon the government of Alberta - no, not even the fifth condition, the one demanding B.C. receive a "fair share" of the revenues.