Smith says Alberta will be proponent for Pacific pipeline, for now

 

 

 

CALGARY – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith really, really wants to build another oil pipeline to the northern BC coast. British Columbia Premier David Eby apparently really, really does not want that to happen. Meanwhile Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe previously said he thinks the most important pipeline project is that very same pipeline to the Pacific, not that any Saskatchewan oil would find its way into it, but such it would free up room in other pipelines for more Saskatchewan oil.

The announcement made by Smith on Oct. 1 was a long time in coming. A year ago, at the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show, she made the case for it, including the possibility of the Government of Alberta acting as a proponent. And at this stage, that seems to be the plan, since no pipeline company has publicly put forward a project to get to the coast.

The idea is also a case of an irresistible force meeting an immovable object – that being Alberta’s desire for a pipeline, and BC’s resistance to it.

Speaking in Calgary, Smith said, “We’ve come together here today because Canada stands at a critical Crossroads. Beneath our feet here in Alberta, we stand on oil reserves valued at over $9 trillion. This resource wealth presents Canada and Canadians with boundless opportunities. This wealth would equate to hundreds of billions of dollars in government revenue. It could be used to support core social programs like health care and education, bolster Canada’s national security commitments under NATO, and unlock economic prosperity for indigenous peoples. Not only would it allow for governments at all levels across the country to fund social programs, it would generate job creation and wealth for Canadians and Albertans on a scale rarely seen in recent decades.

“This type of transformational wealth cannot be kept in the ground, and Canadians agree. Over the past six months, it has become clear that Canadians nationwide see the tremendous opportunity that we have to unleash the economic potential of our energy sector. In fact, recent polling has shown that three quarters of Canadians support building a new oil pipeline. Additionally, the global demand for oil is increasing, and the world wants more Canadian oil and gas. We’ve heard this from Asia, in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia and Indonesia, to name a few. We’ve heard this from Europe, and we know that we need to deliver on global energy security efforts. There are billions of people around the world living in energy poverty, who demand a higher standard of living. This is not just a question of Alberta’s energy, it is a global moral imperative.

“What stands before us right now is a once in a generation opportunity to unlock our wealth of resources and become a world-leading energy superpower, creating lasting prosperity for generations to come. But to realize this potential, the federal government must make meaningful and substantive reforms to Canada’s regulatory environment to revive investor certainty,” Smith said.

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At this point, Smith addressed the conundrum, brought up by Eby. There is no project because there is no proponent who would dare attempt another pipeline to the Pacific Coast. The next day Enbridge CEO Greg Ebel spoke to the Empire Club in Toronto and spoke of how his company had spent and lost $500 million in its failed attempt to build the Northern Gateway Pipeline.

 

Smith said, “The simple fact is that you will not see companies sink billions of dollars into new major projects unless the federal government overturns or overhauls its Trudeau-era anti-resource development policies. And that includes the oil and gas emissions cap, which we know is a production cap, Bill C-69, the No More Pipelines Law and the tanker ban, which have made investment in new oil and gas projects extremely difficult.

“And this is what we’ve heard from industry and potential investors: they will not invest in a new pipeline with these bad laws and regulations in place. You can’t build a pipeline to the northwest coast and still have a tanker ban. You cannot have an emissions cap that is so aggressive that companies would have to shut in operations in order to achieve it. And you can’t have enthusiasm to export natural gas and win the AI data war and then have punitive policies against using natural gas on Alberta’s electricity grid.

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“Now I’ve made this case abundantly clear to the prime minister, and what I can tell you is this that I am more optimistic now than I have ever been over that the concerns of Albertans are finally being heard. While we still have details to work out. I do look forward to reach an agreement that will profoundly benefit Alberta and Canada’s economies. Major investment is what grows our economy, creates jobs, prosperity, and enhances our standard of living.

“And without question, a new oil pipeline to the northwest BC Coast would have the greatest economic benefit of any new nation-building project, for example, had we completed the Northern Gateway project, the Energy East project and the Keystone XL pipeline project, Canada’s GDP today would be $55 billion stronger each and every year. We cannot let another opportunity of this economic magnitude pass us by again.

 

Drum roll please

And that’s when Smith dropped the bombshell – without an actual pipeline company coming forward and saying it wanted to build a pipeline, Smith committed her province to being the proponent. However, the three most likely candidates are also part of this – one of which happens to report to Ottawa as a federal Crown corporation whose ultimate boss is the prime minister.

Smith said, “And that’s why we are announcing that the Government of Alberta will be the proponent of an oil pipeline to the northwest BC coast, with the support and technical advice of three major pipeline companies, including South Bow, Enbridge and Trans Mountain, our government will make a formal application to the federal project office Under the building Canada Act.”

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Indigenous involvement

One of the key failings of Northern Gateway project, which did indeed have federal approval under the Stephen Harper-led Conservative government, was its clumsy and difficult relations with First Nations. That came out in the court proceedings that stymied the project as courts stepped in.

To that end, Smith is seeking buy-in from the get-go. She said, “Today, we are beginning the engagement process with Indigenous groups across Alberta and British Columbia to ensure that they can be part of this nation-building effort. That conversation must begin with Indigenous engagement, not as a check box, but as a foundation for relationship building trust and shared leadership.

“This will lay the groundwork for full and thorough consultation as this project meets regulatory milestones.

“To be clear, though, this is about more than just fulfilling a legal duty to consult. It’s about working together from the beginning to ensure that we get it right this time, informed by Indigenous perspectives and experiences. We also want to have Indigenous partners at the table, as owners to participate, not only as holders of territory, but as co-owners of a project and an asset that will provide wealth for First Nations for generations.

“Our indigenous relations team, led by Minister Rajan Sawhney, will develop and lead an engagement plan in collaboration with First Nations across both provinces.”

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Small dollars for big project

The dollars committed, however, are a far cry from the money Alberta spent on the failed Keystone XL project, the aforementioned $500 million Enbridge spent or $1 billion charge TC Energy reported when it terminated Energy East in 2017.

Smith said, “To get this nation building pipeline project underway, Alberta’s government is committing $14 million to the technical design and detailed application design.”

Under Smith’s predecessor Premier Jason Kenney, Alberta did front the $1.3 billion to build the Alberta portion of the Keystone XL pipeline, the only portion of that project that did get built, from Hardisty to Empress near the Saskatchewan border.

Smith said, “To be clear, Alberta taxpayers will not be on the hook to build this pipeline, but this initial investment is crucial to get this important work underway, and we cannot let billions in investment and future revenues continue to flee our nation. We have worked closely with our pipeline companies to chart a path forward so that we can provide a detailed plan to be approved by the federal government. This work will be guided by an expert advisory committee with a dedicated, full time project management team that includes the top pipeline experts in North America.

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“And it is my hope, with Alberta as the proponent, that we will see this pipeline project on the next list of nation building projects announced by the federal government come gray cup in November. With today’s announcement, Alberta is prepared to answer the call to support global energy security efforts while creating lasting prosperity for Albertans and Canadians for generations to come.

The press release said, “The goal of this planning and pre-front end engineering and design work is to determine the general path and size of the pipeline, quantify costs, initiate early Indigenous engagement and partnership, and make the clear case that this pipeline is in the national interest. Alberta’s government will contribute $14 million to support early planning work including cost estimates, engagement and development of a credible proposal for federal consideration.”

Minister of Energy and Minerals Brian Jean said, “We already see Canada as an energy powerhouse, and with the right infrastructure, moving toward superpower status is both realistic and achievable. Increased market access from Alberta to tidewater will scale Canada’s export markets and diversification, while supporting the federal government’s newly stated ambition of becoming an energy superpower.”

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From Day 1

Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Indigenous Relations, said, ““This is about partnerships and building trust from Day 1 – ensuring Indigenous voices shape the decisions that affect their lands and futures. Alberta’s government is committed to respectful, transparent engagement that recognizes Indigenous communities as rights holders, leaders and owners in the prosperity we build together.”

Chief Raymond Powder, Fort McKay First Nation, said in the government press release, “Fort McKay First Nation welcomes the opportunity to be engaged from the very beginning of this important project. True partnership means listening to Indigenous voices, respecting our lands and ensuring our people share in the benefits. By working together with government and industry, we can create opportunities that strengthen our communities, while showcasing the incredible potential of Alberta’s energy sector.”

Dale Swampy, president, National Coalition of Chiefs, said, “The National Coalition of Chiefs has always said that oil and gas participation, including ownership opportunities, can be a way to drive economic reconciliation. We are happy that Alberta is leading an effort to get another pipeline to the West Coast, and we are especially happy that they have decided to engage with Indigenous nations in B.C. and Alberta right from the very beginning of the process.”

The technical advisory group will include multiple industry participants, bringing expertise in engineering, construction, Indigenous relations and market demand. The groups efforts will be supervised by a panel that currently includes:

• Larry Kaumeyer, deputy minister, Energy and Minerals (co-chair)
• Alex Pourbaix, chair, Cenovus (co-chair)
• Rajan Sawhney, Minister of Indigenous Relations
• Hal Kvisle, energy industry executive and former CEO of TC Energy
• Roderick Graham, board director, AER
• Chief Jim Boucher, AOE, C.B.H.F, Chair, President and Co-Founder, Saa Dene Group of Companies
• Al Monaco, former president and chief executive officer at Enbridge
• Corey Bieber, board director, Vermilion Energy
• Chris Sankey, principal owner and president, Blackfish Enterprises
• Dave Lamouche, president, Metis Settlements General Council

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Opposition already mounting

However, it’s clear that what is effectively Northern Gateway 2.0 will face similar opposition from its neighbours to the West. Asked about the proposal, Eby told reporters on Oct. 1, “Neighbourly relations are crucial between Alberta and British Columbia, and that’s a relationship that needs to go both ways. British Columbia has literally tens of billions of dollars of real private sector shovel ready projects that are going to drive forward not just our economy here in BC, but the national economy at a time that the national economy is under direct threat and attack by Donald Trump.

“The problem that we have is that premier Smith continues to advance a project that is entirely taxpayer funded, has no private sector proponent is not a real project. Is, and is incredibly alarming to British Columbians, including First Nations along the coast, whose support is required for the success of the billions of dollars in real projects that I’m talking about. We need major projects office at the federal level, not a major distractions office and a major politics office, but an office that advances real, shovel ready projects that will move this colony forward in British Columbia and nationally. And what I am seeing from Alberta directly threatens that.

“So I am all for working closely with Alberta on electrical intertie that’s going to drive down electrical rates for Alberta consumers on the hydrogen sector. That is, we both need the federal government to assist us with getting hydrogen to market to build that economy on other major infrastructure projects and projects that have real private sector backing that aren’t entirely tax care funded wedge politics.”

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The critical piece of federal legislation, put in place under the Trudeau administration, is the tanker ban off the northern BC coast. Without its repeal, the whole exercise is a non-starter. And for Eby, that’s how he’d like to keep it. He said, “We have supported the tanker ban from the very beginning because it is foundational to our ability to get some major projects done, including at the Port of Prince Rupert, including major export projects like me in Canada that have facilitated a 4% increase in Canadian GDP. And to put that tanker ban under threat, it’s not just a threat to our pristine coast that’s so very common with myself value, but it is a direct economic threat to the kind of economy that we’re trying to build in the country here. And so when I’ve said, Let’s cross that bridge, when we come to it, we’ll see what the premier comes up with, I’m being polite. I am being polite. There is no project. There is no bridge to cross, unless the Alberta government and the federal Canadian government are committing billions of taxpayer dollars to build this project, and if that is the plan, then they should be transparent about it. Don’t mistake my politeness for weakness on protecting our economy and our coast.”

Eby notably raised his voice considerably when he started talking about “being polite.”

BC Conservative Leader John Runstad said on X, “I fully support Alberta’s effort to move Canadian oil to the coast. I’m tired of giving away our resources to the Americans at a massive discount. Enough is enough. Time to put Canada first.”

 

In a lengthy post on X, Kenney said, “David Eby is objectively a much bigger threat to confederation, and to the rule of law, than Alberta separatists.

“Hard core Alberta separatists are a tiny minority of the population. Their “movement” is made up largely of grifters and cranks. They just won 1% of the vote in the Crowfoot by-election. Despite widespread, justifiable frustration with Ottawa amongst Albertans, there is zero chance a majority would actually vote to leave Canada and become a separate, landlocked country. Eby, on the other hand, is actively undermining the Canadian Constitution with his ideological hostility to pipelines, and doing real damage to national unity and prosperity in the process.”

 

 

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Beaten path

Any new oil pipeline to the West Coast is not starting from scratch, however. The plans for Enbridge’s Northern Gateway were ready over a decade ago, although portions of those plans may be the “problematic” parts that led to such opposition, and they would need to be addressed.

More significantly the recently completed Coastal GasLink pipeline is now complete, meaning there is an existing right-of-way that can be paralleled for a substantial part of the route. That pipeline, too, saw significant resistance from some First Nations groups. However, many First Nations groups supported the pipeline, and the associated LNG Canada project.

While the two projects were both meant to terminate at Kitimat, their routes are not identical, and it’s really only after Fort St. James to the coast they are similar. However, one maxim in pipeline construction rings true – once the path has been beaten, it is generally much easier to parallel an existing right-of-way for subsequent projects than it is to blaze new trail. Smith, herself, spoke about this to the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Show in September, 2024.

But with talk now of going to Prince Rupert instead of Kitimat as a terminus, that would mean entirely new right-of-way, at least until a possible gas pipeline gets built to Prince Rupert.

Prince Rupert also benefits from being right on the ocean. Leaving port, it’s essentially a left turn, right turn and you’re on the open Pacific, whereas Kitimat is at the end of a long, winding fjord, leading to concerns about possible groundings and spills by tankers.

Saskatchewan response

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe told Pipeline Online in late July that from a Saskatchewan perspective, a pipeline to Prince Rupert was the most important project under consideration when it comes to tidewater export consideration. He said in an emailed statement on Oct. 2, “The Government of Saskatchewan welcomes Alberta’s announcement to pursue a new oil pipeline to Canada’s West Coast. Saskatchewan stands with Alberta in recognizing that responsible energy development strengthens our national economy, opens vital new markets for our resources, and advances Canada’s national interests.

“Expanding energy export capacity from Western Canada benefits all producing jurisdictions by increasing the price we get for our oil. This means improved competitiveness, increased investment, higher revenues, and more jobs. It also means that we can bring more responsibly produced energy to global markets. Saskatchewan will continue to work with provincial, territorial, and federal partners to support projects that promote growth and benefit all Canadians.”

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The Pipeline Online podcast is now on Apple Podcasts, available in both video and audio. You can find it here. Please follow.

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/pipeline-online-podcast/id1791695209

The guest on Monday, Oct. 6 will be Grant Greenslade, of Spartan fame.