Ontario Premier Doug Ford arrived at the Calgary Stampede on Monday, July 6, 2026, to promote the Northern Shield pipeline, a proposed crude oil line from Alberta to Ontario. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith joked about Ford's pants falling down during a belt buckle exchange, but Ford's support for the project was serious. The pipeline would run from Hardisty, Alberta, through Regina, Winnipeg, and Sarnia refineries, with a route that nearly reaches the Quebec border before circling back west.
Ontario takes the lead on pipeline proposal
Ford stated that Ontario, not Alberta, would be the formal proponent of Northern Shield, a move designed to frame the pipeline as a national project rather than a purely Albertan one. The project is still in early stages, lagging behind a separate west coast pipeline proposal launched last week by Alberta and Ottawa. Ford met with Dawn Farrell, head of the Major Projects Office, calling her "an extremely, extremely bright person."
The pipeline is seen as a matter of national security, as Line 5 currently sends Alberta crude through U.S. territory and back into Canada, leaving it vulnerable to U.S. President Donald Trump's policies. Trump, who recently overturned a red card for the U.S. soccer team at the World Cup, has shown willingness to disrupt cross-border infrastructure. Ford emphasized that the Northern Shield would reduce reliance on U.S. routes.
Economic and political context
Ford's approval rating in Ontario is 21 per cent, with the province's economy battered by Trump's policies. Both premiers are pushing "nation-building" projects. Smith noted that the pipeline would have huge economic benefits from west to east. However, the project faces skepticism, with some in the oilpatch giving it "less than 50 per cent chance" of success, according to previous reports.
Ford compared the friendly Calgary media to a "church picnic" versus Toronto's press. The exchange of belt buckles, with Ford removing his belt, highlighted the informal Stampede atmosphere. Smith joked, "I don't want his pants to fall down," but Ford's pants stayed up throughout the event.
