Prime Minister Mark Carney's administration appears poised to continue Canada's pattern of pipeline obstruction despite signing a new memorandum of understanding with Alberta, according to political analysis emerging ahead of Thursday's scheduled announcement in Calgary.
Memorandum of Understanding Lacks Federal Commitment
The forthcoming agreement between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, scheduled for signing on Thursday in Calgary, reveals the federal government's intention to avoid substantive involvement in pipeline development. Advanced reports indicate the memorandum establishes requirements that Alberta must fulfill all constitutional, Indigenous, environmental, regulatory and financial prerequisites before the federal government will even consider involving its Major Projects Office.
This approach fundamentally contradicts the stated purpose of the MPO, which was created specifically to help navigate regulatory hurdles, facilitate negotiations with affected First Nations, and secure international investors once cabinet designates a project as being in the national interest.
Major Projects Office Fails to Deliver Results
The $230 million Major Projects Office has shown little evidence of meaningful accomplishment since its establishment. Beyond expenditures on office space, staff, equipment and elaborate mapping systems, the bureaucracy has primarily served as a backdrop for prime ministerial photo opportunities.
While the MPO has selected ten projects for support, there is no public documentation demonstrating concrete progress on any initiative. The office appears focused on administrative setup rather than the practical resolution of development obstacles.
West Coast Pipeline Faces Federal Indifference
The most concerning aspect of the Carney government's approach involves what should be considered a clear national interest project: a West Coast pipeline. Rather than providing active federal support, the Liberals seem content to observe while Alberta shoulders the entire burden of preparation and negotiation.
Political observers suggest the memorandum may represent a strategic maneuver to temporarily placate Alberta separatist sentiments rather than a genuine commitment to energy infrastructure development. The timing coincides with growing western Canadian frustration over perceived federal indifference to the region's economic priorities.
Despite Prime Minister Carney's frequent references to building an energy superpower, his government's actions increasingly resemble the oil-sector skepticism characteristic of his predecessor, Justin Trudeau. While Carney may demonstrate less overt anti-Alberta sentiment than Trudeau, his refusal to deploy MPO resources equivalently across provinces suggests continued regional disparity in federal support.
The Calgary announcement will be closely watched for indications of whether the Carney administration intends to break from established patterns of pipeline obstruction or merely continue them under revised terminology.
