A group of 100 B.C. business, community and Indigenous leaders is flying to Edmonton May 17 for meetings with their Alberta counterparts in an effort to urge cooperation on economic development.

Dubbed the 鈥淔ederation Flight,鈥� the day of meetings includes Alberta Premier Rachel Notley and representatives of the Edmonton and Calgary Chambers of Commerce. It鈥檚 a follow-up to the 鈥淐onfidence in Canada鈥� rally organized in Vancouver April 12, in response to Kinder Morgan鈥檚 announcement is was suspending non-essential work on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project.

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鈥淭he Federation Flight is a continuation of the Confidence in Canada coalition鈥檚 efforts, and supports a positive relationship among all provinces in Canada, with the Trans Mountain pipeline as its catalyst,鈥� said Iain Black, president of the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade. 鈥淏ut this trip is about much more than a single project.鈥�

Black points to an Ipsos poll showing 56 per cent of Canadians support the pipeline expansion, something the Alberta and federal governments have pledged to carry on despite well-organized protests disrupting the work.

鈥淔ailing to build this pipeline sends dangerous signals to investors that you can follow the rules and get all the required approvals, but still see your job-creating investment stalled to death,鈥� said Janet Riopel, president of the Edmonton Chamber of Commerce. 鈥淐anada鈥檚 track record as a serious international trading partner hangs in the balance.鈥�