The editorial lists a number of federal jurisdictions Ottawa could use to force a pipeline through over BC's objections.  Other have noted those jurisdictions are not exclusive, that the provinces do retain a enormous amount of power at their disposal.

But then the editors mention the infamous declaratory power.  It hasn't been used since the 60s when Ottawa took over the entire atomic energy industry.  The declaratory power is one of three anti-federal powers still around from the colonial era.  It permits Ottawa to take a giant eraser to provincial jurisdiction.  The political firestorm that would result if it were to be used here in BC would make the political fallout in Alberta from the National Energy Program pale by comparison.

Why, I would ask the editors, would Ottawa have to resort to using such a crude, anti-democratic measure if Ottawa already had enough jurisdictional power to win the day?  Perhaps the case is not so clear cut as they would have us think.