Alberta's government remains steadfast in its pursuit of a West Coast bitumen pipeline despite the project's apparent exclusion from Ottawa's preliminary list of major initiatives slated for expedited approval.
Federal Announcement Looms Without Alberta Pipeline
Prime Minister Mark Carney is scheduled to announce the next batch of nation-building projects in Terrace, B.C., on Thursday afternoon. The northern port city represents a potential terminus for Alberta's proposed oil and gas pipeline. However, a leaked list reported by CBC News suggests the announcement may prioritize other developments.
The preliminary list includes six projects: the Ksi Lisims liquefied natural gas project in B.C., the Crawford Nickel project in Ontario, the Sisson Mine project in New Brunswick, the Noveau Monde Graphite Phase 2 project in Quebec, and a hydro project in Iqaluit. Notably absent is any mention of a bitumen pipeline.
Sensitive Negotiations Continue
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has characterized discussions with federal counterparts as "sensitive negotiations" aimed at securing a memorandum of understanding on pipeline development. The provincial government had initially targeted reaching an agreement by Sunday's Grey Cup game.
In an official statement released Wednesday, Smith's office confirmed that negotiations remain ongoing and unchanged. The statement reiterated Alberta's position that Ottawa must scale back legislation the province believes has discouraged energy sector investment.
The provincial government is seeking: removal of the West Coast tanker ban, overhaul of the Impact Assessment Act, and modifications to the electric vehicle mandate, among other policy changes.
Path Forward for Energy Development
The proposed memorandum of understanding would encompass both regulatory reforms and a framework for ultimately approving a bitumen pipeline to Asian markets. Alberta officials emphasize that private investment in the energy sector has been hampered by current federal policies.
While Thursday's federal announcement may not include the pipeline project, Alberta authorities indicate their commitment to the initiative remains unwavering. The ongoing negotiations suggest both levels of government continue to seek common ground on energy infrastructure development.
A senior government source previously indicated to Postmedia that Thursday's announcement would likely feature a combination of new projects and updates on initiatives Carney identified back in September as requiring further development.
