Prince George, B.C.- The Western Premier’s conference has wrapped in Winnipeg and while the Premiers discussed a number of common concerns, it was Premier Clark who was the focus on two fronts.

 

While the Premiers agreed to work together to press the Federal Government on issues of skills training and immigration, it was B.C.’s Premier who was pressed by media on matters concerning pipelines and energy when the  post meeting media conference was held this morning.

 

Premier Christy Clark was asked if B.C. will now consider getting involved in developing a Canadian Energy Strategy. Clark’s answer was a ‘maybe’.  “The 5 conditions that we’ve set out in British Columbia are all about ensuring that projects will acquire the social license necessary to proceed before they can go ahead. We are beginning some discussions around what that social license needs to look like and what the 5 conditions mean and why its important.” She says once there is more clarity on that, “B.C. would be prepared to step up and participate in the National Energy Strategy “but we need that clarity first.” Clark says the discussions are involving the  federal Government, private sector and other provincial governments.

 

Clark says the 5 conditions are not meant to stop economic development “They are intended to ensure projects for moving heavy oil in British Columbia acquire the social license they need to go ahead.”

 

Clark says the projects are private sector driven, “So the rules and expectations are absolutely clear and so its up to the private sector to decide which projects they would like to proceed with.”

 

Although the heavy oil movement through B.C. has been a touchy subject between BC  and Alberta, Clark says   she and Premier Allison Redford Alberta continue talking about other issues which are shared concerns “We’re having a healthy dialogue between our two jurisdictions we haven’t necessarily bridged all of our disagreements about heavy oil movement through British Columbia, but the way you get there is by talking.” Premier Redford adds “At the end of the day this is a private commercial project  (Enbridge) and its subject to an independent process in terms of what the next steps are. So those are also important to respect in terms of dialogue, that its not only necessarily a conversation that needs to take place between Premiers, but stakeholders community interests and everyone that has an interest in and involvement in this process.”

 

The other issue which placed BC front and centre was that of battling bullying.

 

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger, says the bullying   issue is crucial now, especially with the growth of use of social media. He points to B.C. ‘s efforts in the wake of the death of Amanda Todd, as a positive program,  from which new ideas can be adapted and programs can be developed.    “Using the ability to report bullying anonymously using social media, we think would be beneficial” says Premier Selinger. “We’re learning from each other” says Selinger “ as new forms of bullying occur using new technologies, we have to stay ahead of that, learn from that to ensure all children have a safe environment.”

 

Premier Clark outlined the $4 million dollar program that includes the development of a bullying report system that allows the reporting of bullying anonymously and in real time “Students don’t want an ap on their phones that would identify them as a ‘rat line”, so we set up an online reporting system that allows for the reporting of an incident in real time.” That reporting system will allow real time response for police and other authorities that may be involved.   The program also offers support for the victim and the bully in addition to the school district.