Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be in Victoria Thursday meeting with coast guard officials where he will make an announcement on marine safety and oil spill prevention. It's part of a western Canada tour focussing on his government's message regarding balancing the environment and economy.
Despite being in Victoria Trudeau has no plans to meet with BC's premier. John Horgan has raised the ire of both Ottawa and Alberta by moving to restrict any increased bitumen shipments through this province pending more studies into if the tar sands product can be adequately cleaned up.
The pipeline was given the green light by the Trudeau government in 2016. But opponents maintain it will increase the risk of oil spills in the Salish Sea, threatening marine wildlife and ocean-dependent jobs. Opponents also argue the project will prevent Canada from meeting its climate change commitments.
Trudeau's Thursday itinerary also includes a clean tech industry round table in Vancouver, followed by a $1,000-a-plate Liberal party fundraising dinner.
Following his BC stop Trudeau will head to Fort McMurray, Alberta to meet with oil company executives and tour a Suncor facility. That company's CEO recently said he would not invest in any new major projects in Canada because of its burdensome regulations and uncompetitive tax rates.