HALIFAX, N.S. -  A growing number of Canada’s premiers are backing a proposal to ship Alberta oil to Eastern Canada.

Premier Alison Redford of Alberta says she’s pleased to see her provincial counterparts support the idea following a discussion she had with Quebec Premier Pauline Marois late Thursday.

The plan would reverse the flow of an existing pipeline to bring Alberta oil to customers in the eastern half of Canada.

Redford says she has also been in discussions for months with Premier David Alward about the possibility of shipping Alberta oil to Saint John.

Alward says he is glad Quebec and Alberta have agreed to explore the idea further and hopes his province may be able to take part.

The premiers concluded a meeting today in Halifax to discuss the economy.