As the federal government works towards its next batch of major projects, Prime Minister Mark Carney is not ruling out a new pipeline to the B.C. coast or lifting environmental policies like the tanker ban and emissions cap.
“This government believes in nation-building projects, in both clean and conventional energy,” Carney said when asked directly by reporters in Ottawa on Friday about whether he supports a pipeline from Alberta to B.C.
“Those projects have several characteristics. Material, economic benefits, linking together different parts of our economy. Consistency with our climate objectives and benefits and participation for Indigenous peoples. So those elements coming together can come together in a pipeline to the West Coast.”
In recent weeks, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby have been publicly at odds over Alberta’s proposal to be the initial proponent of a pipeline going from her province to the B.C. coast.
Earlier this month, Smith said her province would commit $14 million to fund initial planning stages of a pipeline, leading Eby to sharply criticize her proposal as “not a real project” and “incredibly alarming.”
Smith later shot back at Eby calling his opposition as “un-Canadian” and “unconstitutional.”
On Monday, Smith met with Carney in Ottawa and said the prime minister committed to reaching an agreement regarding Alberta’s pipeline pitch by the Grey Cup, which is held on Nov. 16. Carney set his own deadline to unveil a second phase of major projects by that date.
In a statement to CTV News on Thursday, Smith reiterated that she expects a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the federal government to be finished by the Grey Cup. Alberta then plans to apply to the Major Projects Office (MPO) “early next year.”
Carney’s response on Friday contrasts comments from Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson before a Senate question period on Thursday.
“You need support of the jurisdiction you build through,” Hodgson said when asked about the provincial divide.
“If they want to build, that’s something between the province of Alberta and the province of British Columbia. We’ve said we will be a constructive participant in that three-way discussion. The province of Alberta has some work to do.”
In a statement released Friday, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre accused the federal government of inventing “a fake provincial veto for the Premier of B.C.”
The statement went on to say that “at a time when regional divides are deepening, and we face new and ever-changing threats to our economy, it is more important than ever to unite as Canadians and create a prosperous and self-reliant country with powerful paycheques for all.”
Will federal government repeal tanker ban and emissions cap?
Smith’s pipeline proposal would require the federal government to lift the current tanker ban, which was enacted in 2019 and prohibits oil tankers carrying over 12,500 metric tons of crude or persistent oil from docking, loading, or unloading at ports on the B.C. north coast.
In her statement to CTV News, Smith said the MOU she is seeking from the federal government “includes the removal, carve out or overhaul of the bad laws chasing away private investment in our energy sectors.”
Asked explicitly by reporters on Friday about whether he is considering repealing either the tanker ban or emissions cap, Carney said “it depends.”
“What this government is interested in is results, not objectives. We want to see results. We want to see lower carbon conventional energy, lower carbon mining, lower carbon manufacturing because that is going to be a driver of competitiveness,” he said.
Carney also described his discussions with Alberta as “constructive” and “focused on outcomes.”
“It is absolutely clear, all our discussions with proponents, all our discussions with the province of Alberta, for example, include material carbon capture and storage alongside conventional energy projects,” he added.
The federal government has said it is “committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050,” but have been less definitive about its current 2030 and 2035 emissions targets.
Carney is expected to unveil a new climate competitiveness strategy this fall.
With files from CTV News’ Rachel Aiello, Spencer Van Dyk and Abigail Bimman
