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Tag: David Eby

  • Carney Meets Eby in Vancouver as Alberta Pushes Forward With New Pacific Pipeline

    Carney Meets Eby in Vancouver as Alberta Pushes Forward With New Pacific Pipeline

    Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet with David Eby in Vancouver today as discussions intensify over major infrastructure and economic development projects, while Alberta prepares to unveil new plans for a proposed oil pipeline to the Pacific coast.

    According to the prime minister’s official itinerary, Carney and Eby will announce what has been described as a “new co-operative prosperity partnership,” aimed at strengthening collaboration between the federal government and British Columbia on key economic and infrastructure initiatives.

    The meeting comes at a pivotal moment for Canada’s energy sector, with Danielle Smith expected to reveal the next phase of Alberta’s efforts to advance a new oil pipeline project that would provide expanded access to Pacific export markets.

    The proposed pipeline remains in the early stages of development and currently lacks a finalized route or a confirmed private-sector developer. Eby has previously expressed concerns about the project’s viability, emphasizing that Ottawa should prioritize energy and infrastructure developments in British Columbia that already have strong private investment and commercial support.

    The discussions also unfold against the backdrop of shifting federal climate and energy policies under Carney’s administration. Earlier this week, the prime minister acknowledged that Canada’s overall carbon emissions are expected to rise under his government’s revised climate and energy strategy.

    In a video statement released on Tuesday, Carney said emissions targets established under former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau were “well intentioned” but argued that they were not sustainable over the long term. He indicated that his government is pursuing a more balanced approach focused on economic growth, energy development, and long-term national competitiveness.

    The evolving strategy has sparked debate across the country as Canada seeks to strengthen its position as a major global energy producer while balancing environmental commitments and economic priorities.

    Observers will be watching closely to see whether the federal-provincial partnership announced in Vancouver aligns with Alberta’s push for expanded oil export infrastructure and how British Columbia responds to renewed efforts to develop a pipeline route to the Pacific coast.

  • Pierre Poilievre Pledges Conservatives Will Fight to Keep Alberta in Canada

    Pierre Poilievre Pledges Conservatives Will Fight to Keep Alberta in Canada

    Pierre Poilievre says all Conservative MPs will actively campaign for Alberta to remain part of Canada if a separation referendum moves forward in the province.

    Speaking during a news conference in North Vancouver on Thursday, Poilievre reaffirmed his support for Canadian unity amid growing debate over Alberta separatism.

    “I’m a strong Canadian federalist, a proud Albertan and a proud Canadian. I want a strong Alberta within a united Canada, and all Conservatives will be campaigning for Canadian unity in Alberta,” Poilievre said.

    The comments come after Danielle Smith announced that Albertans will vote this fall on whether the province should begin the legal process required for a future binding referendum on separation from Canada.

    The proposed Oct. 19 referendum question asks whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or if the provincial government should move toward holding a future separation vote under the Canadian Constitution.

    Poilievre also said Conservatives would campaign against separation if Quebec’s Parti Quebecois were to return to power and pursue another independence referendum.

    “It is the job of the prime minister of Canada to unite the country, and as prime minister in waiting, I will begin that work myself,” he stated.

    The Conservative leader blamed growing separatist sentiment in Alberta on nearly a decade of Liberal governance in Ottawa, arguing that regional tensions were far lower under former prime minister Stephen Harper.

    “There was absolutely no separation movement whatsoever in Alberta,” Poilievre said, adding that separatist parties in Quebec had nearly disappeared politically during Harper’s tenure.

    Poilievre also criticized Prime Minister Mark Carney, saying the federal government should do more to ease frustrations in Alberta by supporting energy development, reducing regulations for businesses and scrapping the federal gun buyback program.

    Carney has recently made several efforts to strengthen relations with Alberta, including an agreement reached last week to revise federal climate policies and support plans for a new oil pipeline to Canada’s Pacific Coast.

    The proposed pipeline project is expected to be completed by 2033 or 2034 and has already sparked political debate across the country.

    Meanwhile, David Eby criticized Ottawa’s agreement with Alberta, arguing there is currently no private-sector company committed to building the pipeline and accusing Alberta of being rewarded for threatening separation.

    The Alberta referendum debate is expected to dominate political discussions across Canada ahead of the province’s fall vote.

  • Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Open to Southern Route for Major New West Coast Oil Pipeline

    Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Open to Southern Route for Major New West Coast Oil Pipeline

    Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is considering both northern and southern routes for a proposed pipeline that would transport Alberta oil to Canada’s West Coast, as negotiations with Prime Minister Mark Carney move the massive energy project closer to reality.

    Speaking in an interview with CTV’s Question Period, Smith confirmed that Alberta and the federal government are currently reviewing five potential routes for the pipeline, including a southern option that could follow the path of the existing Trans Mountain Expansion Project (TMX).

    The proposed pipeline would significantly expand Canada’s oil export capacity to international markets, particularly Asia, and is expected to become one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects in years.

    Smith said she personally favors a northern route because it would provide faster access to Asian markets and avoid some of the congestion faced by southern coastal shipping lanes.

    However, she emphasized that all options remain on the table, including a route ending at Roberts Bank in Delta, British Columbia, south of Vancouver.

    “I’m open-minded about what the Roberts Bank proposal might look like,” Smith said, noting that political and economic realities will play a major role in selecting the final route.

    The discussions come after Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a breakthrough agreement on industrial carbon pricing, a key condition tied to the proposed pipeline and associated Pathways carbon capture projects.

    Under the agreement, Canada and Alberta will delay the implementation of a $130-per-tonne industrial carbon price until 2040, pushing the target back by an additional decade.

    The deal is considered a critical step toward approving the pipeline project, although construction still depends on the advancement of major carbon capture and emissions reduction initiatives backed by the oil industry.

    Smith and Carney also revealed this week that construction on the pipeline is expected to begin in September 2027, though detailed timelines for the Pathways projects are still under negotiation.

    One major challenge remains opposition from British Columbia Premier David Eby, who has criticized any northern route that would require lifting the federal tanker ban along B.C.’s northwest coast.

    Smith acknowledged that political hurdles are a major factor in the decision-making process.

    “There’s no question that you can have a project that looks great on paper, and the engineers would say ‘that’s the route,’ but you have to deal with the political realities,” she said.

    The Alberta premier added that consultations with communities and stakeholders will intensify after a formal proposal is submitted following July 1.

    Currently, Alberta itself remains the official proponent of the pipeline project, as no private company has yet stepped forward to lead development.

    The proposed pipeline is expected to remain at the center of Canada’s energy and climate debate, balancing economic growth, environmental concerns, Indigenous consultation, and national energy security.