As the clock winds down on the Premier of Alberta’s deadline for the BC Government to back off a contentious proposal threatening the Trans-Mountain pipeline, the leader of the BC Liberals is saying enough already.

Andrew Wilkinson says it seems odd the Horgan government wants to establish a scientific panel to study bitumen when the work has either already been done or will be done by Ottawa.

“I am very concerned that the interests of British Columbians have been forgotten in this and that John Horgan has decided to pick a fight. If it goes to court we will probably lose. It is not a sign of good leadership on the part of the NDP. As I said in Kelowna last week it is time for John Horgan to get on a plane and swallow his pride and go to Edmonton and solve this problem so that British Columbians can get on with their lives.”

Wilkinson says oil tankers have been going through BC waters for decades noting the ocean environment is the jurisdiction of the federal government not provincial.

He says the Horgan government’s move to strike a scientific panel to study bitumen and its impacts if spilled, a move angering Alberta, is redundant.

“The idea that the B.C. government should go off and start this all over again seems a bit odd when there is obviously a significant amount of scientific material and engineering experience out there to deal with this already. The concern of course is what is the real agenda of John Horgan and the NDP? Are they looking out for the interests of British Columbians or are they just looking to grandstand on this issue.”

Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, who has already banned BC wine imports in retaliation, said Monday she would give talks between Ottawa and BC to defuse the situation a few more days before taking further action.