Eby says it's not him blocking Smith's oil pipeline, it's lack of money and proponent

British Columbia Premier David Eby says it's not him standing in the way of Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith's longed-for oil pipeline from Alberta to B.C.'s north coast — it's that there's no proponent, no money and "no project right now."

It's Eby's latest rebuff to the idea, coming after Smith said on Sunday she could convince him to allow such a pipeline.

Eby says that if Smith succeeds in finding a proponent and funding, and assembles a project, then B.C. "will certainly cross that bridge."

But he says there are already "countless projects" that B.C. could work on with Alberta to create prosperity in Western Canada.

Eby was speaking at a news conference on Monday from Seoul, South Korea, the final stop on a 10-day trade tour through Asia that has also included Japan and Malaysia.

Asked about B.C.'s green light last week for a Prince Rupert gas pipeline, Eby said the province was not "in the business of turning away investments" — but wouldn't speculate whether that applied to an oil pipeline from Alberta.

Eby added that he understands Smith is "keen" on such a project, just as Ontario Premier Doug Ford is "keen on tunnel underneath the 401."