Alberta Premier Danielle Smith feels a sense of relief this day. She is confident that the majority of Albertans back her pipeline deal with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Smith's Confidence in the Deal
Smith tells me there was a time she was nervous. After all, a lot is riding on this path to a pipeline. The premier admits there were some stumbling blocks the last couple of weeks but they were ironed out with Carney. Now Alberta is expecting approval for construction of a pipeline to the west coast by September 1 of next year, a date revealed in a previous column.
Of course, the naysayers are already coming out of the woodwork. They insist there will never be a pipeline. Some believe Smith somehow sold out Alberta to get an agreement. The premier is not having any of that. She not only feels relieved, she is confident.
“The majority of people are being won over,” says Smith, with no hint of hesitation or doubt. “The majority of Albertans want Canada and Alberta to come to an agreement. The majority of people feel optimistic about this deal.”
“I think most Albertans are rooting for Alberta to do well and most Albertans are rooting for Alberta and Canada to find a way to do this together. We’re trying to win people over decision by decision.”
Criticism from Opponents
Smith points to those she sees as wanting this pipeline deal to collapse. She points to Alberta NDP leader Naheed Nenshi, as an example. The political wars do not stop.
“People like Naheed Nenshi have been calling this a pipe dream from the beginning and he has a vested interest in not seeing it be successful because his political fortunes are tied to failure,” says Smith, dismissing her rival.
As for those who don’t trust Carney, how does Smith get their support for this agreement? “That’s why we have got dates written in ink and signed both by myself and the prime minister.”
Key Dates in the Agreement
Loyal readers know the dates. They are confirmed in Smith’s deal with Carney on Friday.
- July 1, 2026: Alberta submits its pipeline plan to Carney and the federal government. A potential route will be identified along with costs and out of what port the oil will be shipped. At this point there are no investors nailed down.
- October 1, 2026: The pipeline would be declared to be in the national interest of Canada and fast-tracked for construction approval. This is right before the Alberta independence vote.
- September 1, 2027: The pipeline would get construction approval, just like a development gets a building permit. This is right before the Alberta election.
Smith says getting those dates spelled out is critical. “Those dates were very important to try to win confidence back,” says the premier. After all, a deal with Carney was supposed to be inked April 1. “I think the wait was worth it when you see we got that certainty written in the dates we are both working towards.”
