Political tensions reached boiling point in Ottawa this week as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney prepared to sign a controversial pipeline agreement in Calgary on Thursday, November 27, 2025.
Pipeline Politics Divide Ottawa
The proposed bitumen oil pipeline to northwest British Columbia's coast has created deep divisions within Liberal Ottawa circles. While Alberta desperately wants the pipeline project, many in the nation's capital, including self-identified Trudeau Liberals, strongly oppose the idea.
Conservative MPs seated across from Prime Minister Carney in the House of Commons have been particularly vocal in their skepticism. They openly question Carney's trustworthiness and accuse him of being evasive when answering direct questions about the pipeline project.
The Calgary Agreement Details
As Carney traveled to snowy Calgary for the signing ceremony, the specifics of the Smith-Carney pact began to emerge. The agreement is being presented as paving the way for a potential bitumen oil pipeline to the northwest B.C. coast, though the project remains largely theoretical at this stage.
Notably, the deal isn't expected to include language granting British Columbia a veto over the pipeline, despite Carney's clear statement on Tuesday that "We believe the government of British Columbia has to agree. We believe First Nation right holders in this country have to agree."
The same sentiments were echoed Wednesday by one of Carney's key ministers, creating confusion about the government's actual position.
Environmental Concessions and Questions
The agreement is expected to include significant environmental concessions for Alberta. The federal emissions cap will be eliminated and net-zero clean electricity regulations will be suspended specifically for Alberta as part of the deal.
If the pipeline ever becomes reality, tankers would not be banned from collecting bitumen from the northwest B.C. coast and transporting it to Asian markets. However, Carney's planned avoidance of press questions in Calgary has raised additional concerns about transparency and accountability.
The political drama unfolding around this pipeline agreement highlights the ongoing tensions between Alberta's energy ambitions and federal environmental priorities, with Conservative critics watching carefully for any signs of backtracking from the Liberal government.
