Trans Mountain debate follows Trudeau to U.K. as activists unveil 'Crudeau Oil' props

Activists protesting the Trans Mountain pipeline project confronted Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as he left the Canadian High Commission in London on Wednesday.

Campaigners from Greenpeace UK — a group that has staunchly opposed the expansion project at home — built a fake pipeline around the building, which sits next to the iconic Trafalgar Square in the city centre.

The pipeline was labelled "Crudeau Oil," a play on the prime minister's name and the crude oil that is expected to flow through the $7.4-billion pipeline project from Alberta to B.C.

Rappellers also scaled two of the diplomatic mission's Greek-style pillars and unfurled large banners with the same words as British police and high commission staff stood passively on the sidewalk below and watched.

The 30 activists had simply hoped to make their message with Trudeau in town, but they actually saw him — albeit for only a few quick seconds — when he departed the high commission for a women's rights event at city hall.

Trudeau simply said to the protesters, "Thanks for coming out," as he hopped into a waiting vehicle.

The pipeline, which will expand an existing line and significantly increase capacity, has been a political headache in recent weeks for the federal Liberal government as the proponent, Kinder Morgan, has stopped all non-essential spending in the wake of entrenched opposition to project from the B.C. NDP government. The Liberal government approved the expansion in November 2016.

Trudeau meeting Queen

Trudeau also met with Queen Elizabeth for the third time on Wednesday.

Trudeau's audience with the Queen took place at Buckingham Palace. While the first few moments of their discussion were captured, cameras are not permitted into the Queen's apartment to record the entire conversation. That talk is private.

Trudeau's first meeting with the monarch took place at Buckingham Palace shortly after Trudeau took office in 2015. His second private meeting was at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, the Queen's official Scottish residence.

Earlier in the day, Trudeau sat down with U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May for a conversation that focused on trade and the United Kingdom's pending post-Brexit departure from the European Union.

Officials say Trudeau sought to reassure U.K. businesses that the Canadian government is prioritizing a free trade agreement with Britain.

Post-Brexit trade

In 2017, Canada and the U.K. had over $26.5 billion in two-way merchandise trade, making the U.K. Canada's fifth largest merchandise trade partner.

Officials say Canada is willing to open formal trade negotiations with the U.K. the "day after" Brexit closes next March.

The Canadian government plans to use the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with Europe as the blueprint for any new deal between Canada the U.K.

"What Prime Minister Trudeau will be doing [in the U.K.] is emphasizing that this is really in our mutual interest to pursue these discussions and make sure our companies can continue to work together," Canada's International Trade Minister François-Philippe Champagne said in an interview with CBC News.

"We will continue to work to make sure [CETA] would be the basis of our discussions," Champagne said. "Today we have a free trade agreement, things are going well, and we want that to continue with them."

May and Trudeau were also expected to discuss the recent military strikes in Syria and ramped-up diplomatic tensions with Russia.

Canada expelled four Russian diplomats and rejected the credentials of three others in response to a nerve gas agent attack in Salisbury, U.K. that has been widely blamed on the Russians.

Trudeau began Wednesday at London City Hall, where he met with Mayor Sadiq Khan. Trudeau took part in a discussion with youth from a local high school and marked the centenary of women obtaining the right to vote in the U.K.

Later in the day, Trudeau and the other four leaders of the Five Eyes nations will sit down. The intelligence-sharing alliance is made up of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The location of the talks is so top secret it won't be known to journalists until the leaders have finished the meeting.

On Thursday, Trudeau will attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) summit. The 53 Commonwealth nations meet every two years. This year's discussions will centre on four themes: fairness, prosperity, security and sustainability.