BURSTPrime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have signed a memorandum of understanding to work toward building an oil pipeline to B.C.’s north coast.
“At the core of the agreement, of course, is a priority to have a pipeline to Asia that’s going to make Canada stronger, more independent, more resilient, more sustainable,” Carney said on Thursday morning (Nov. 27) in Calgary.
This deal was negotiated without B.C. Premier David Eby’s involvement and without consulting coastal First Nations. There is a moratorium on heavy oil tanker traffic covering the area, and that would need to be amended or rescinded. Coastal First Nations want the moratorium kept in place.
The MOU commits to “an appropriate adjustment” to those rules should the project be approved.
Premier David Eby has consistently said there is no project proposal and that he wants to focus on existing projects and avoid endangering First Nations’ support for those projects. These include an electrical transmission line across northern B.C., critical mineral projects and liquefied natural gas export terminals.
Eby is expected to address the media at 12:30 p.m.
The MOU also commits to not implementing an oil and gas emissions cap, suspending clean energy regulations and declaring that a pipeline to bring Alberta oil to Asian markets is a priority.
The MOU stipulates that Alberta must submit an application for a pipeline project to the federal Major Projects Office by July 1, 2026.
More to come.