Alberta Premier Danielle Smith expressed renewed optimism on Friday following a meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, stating that the two leaders have made “significant progress” toward finalizing an agreement on a west coast pipeline and industrial carbon pricing.
Meeting in Ottawa
Smith and Carney met in Ottawa on Friday morning, just over a month after the April 1 deadline to reach a deal on industrial carbon pricing. This deadline was part of the memorandum of understanding signed last November between the federal government and Alberta.
In a social media post on X, Smith said she is now “much more confident” that the necessary work will be completed before Alberta’s west coast pipeline submission to the Major Projects Office in June. The premier emphasized that the agreement could unlock hundreds of billions of dollars in new investments for Alberta and the Canadian economy.
“Although there is still some work left to be done to get to the finish line and ensure the interests of Albertans and our industries are properly protected, I am now much more confident this will be completed well before Alberta’s west coast pipeline submission to the Major Projects Office next month,” Smith wrote.
She concluded her post by telling Albertans to “stay tuned.”
Upcoming Events
Later on Friday, Smith is scheduled to participate in the Canada Strong and Free Network event in Ottawa alongside former premier Jason Kenney.
2026 Census Participation
In a separate Friday morning news release, the province encouraged Albertans to participate in the 2026 census to ensure fair federal funding. Treasury Board President and Finance Minister Nate Horner highlighted the importance of census participation for fairness, representation, and recognizing Alberta’s growth.
Alberta’s population has now surpassed five million, placing increased pressure on health care, education, and social services. Federal funding is allocated based on a per-person formula, meaning each completed census helps secure appropriate funding for the province.
“By completing the 2026 Census of Population, Albertans can make sure fair funds from federal taxes are being returned to the province through federal transfers,” the press release stated.
Census letters are being mailed to households and should be completed by May 12.
