The federal government is prepared to consider assuming some of the financial risks as a solution to the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion feud.
Kinder Morgan issued an ultimatum on Sunday, saying the company would cease all non-essential spending on the project until it gets more clarity from the provinces and federal government on the project's chances for success.
The company pointed to the province's stalling tactics as a factor in the uncertainty that has shrouded progress on the $7.4-billion expansion.
The company also gave a deadline of May 31, saying it couldn't see a way forward for the project if clarity isn't achieved by then.
"I think that we're prepared to look at all reasonable options," Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr told CBC Radio's The House on Friday.
"The government of Canada is saying, 'We'll look at de-risking the project so there's more certainty.'"
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his ministers have vowed for months that the pipeline expansion would be built. An emergency cabinet meeting was held earlier this week to discuss the impasse; ministers emerged offering no clear indications of a path forward.
Providing a guarantee that Ottawa would cover for some potential losses could be one of the options on the table, according to Carr.
Earlier this week, the minister said that a federal investment in the Trans Mountain pipeline was one of the other possibilities.
Those two ideas are only options under consideration at this point, along with other legal and regulatory manoeuvres.
Carr said investor confidence is key to Canada's economy, and channels need to remain open to U.S. and Asian markets.
"Delay means cost and cost means uncertainty."
Premiers meeting in Ottawa Sunday
The opposition from the B.C. government has been focused on protecting the coast and looking at the potential environmental impacts of the project.
Carr cited as a preventative measure the federal government's new Oceans Protection Plan, which earmarks $1.5 billion for defending Canada's ocean coastlines to protect killer whales, guard against oil spills and enable trade.
But B.C. Premier John Horgan has remained immovable — much to the frustration of Alberta Premier Rachel Notley, and despite the fact that the federal government holds ultimate constitutional authority over the pipeline.
"There are those out there who are, at this point, calling this moment we are in a constitutional crisis for the country," Notley said. "And I don't know really if that's too far off."
She has also said her province is willing to shoulder some or all of the financial risk, and is considering investing in the pipeline project. She said the federal government should think about doing the same.
The two premiers will meet with the prime minister in Ottawa on Sunday, but it's not clear whether they will emerge with a concrete path forward.
"With good will and a genuine search for common ground, I guess we should be somewhat hopeful something good will happen, but it depends on how entrenched and how dug in people are and to what extent they're prepared to move," Carr said.
A compromise could be reached, but universal satisfaction seems unlikely.
The results of the meeting could face staunch opposition from the B.C. Green Party, which supported Horgan on his road to the premiership.
Andrew Weaver, B.C.'s Green Party leader, told The House that if Horgan agrees to a compromise that allows the pipeline to go ahead, he'll fight that decision.
"We can never support any measures or any government that would allow diluted bitumen to flow in our coastal waters. Period," he said.
"Everyone has a line in the sand. Diluted bitumen is ours."