Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's government will unveil its proposal for a new one-million-barrel-per-day pipeline to Canada's West Coast on Thursday, July 2, a spokesman confirmed. The announcement follows a May agreement between Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney to submit an application to the federal Major Projects Office by July 1.
Key details of the pipeline pitch
Sam Blackett, a spokesman for the premier, stated on Monday: "We will have a major announcement on July 2 to share new details about the Government of Alberta's submission to the Major Projects Office for a new one-million-barrel-per-day oil pipeline to Canada's West Coast." The submission was originally due by July 1, but was moved to July 2 due to Canada Day.
The pipeline proposal is a centerpiece of a memorandum of understanding between Smith and Carney, aimed at resetting relations between Ottawa and Alberta after years of tension under former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Carney has pledged to transform Canada into an "energy superpower," and Smith advocates that a new West Coast pipeline would diversify export capacity to Asian markets amid tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Uncertainties: private sector backing and route
Two major questions remain: whether a private sector proponent will step forward to build the pipeline, and the exact route it would take. Past pipeline projects have faced fierce backlash from some local First Nations and environmental groups when routes ran through British Columbia's northwest coast, where waters are protected by an oil tanker moratorium.
Smith's government is expected to hold a telephone townhall on Tuesday with Indigenous communities to collect information for further engagement. Smith has signaled that a northern route would be most advantageous for port access and proximity to Asian markets.
Political and legal hurdles
B.C. Premier David Eby has opposed lifting the oil tanker ban and criticized Alberta's pipeline proposal for lacking a private sector backer. Under the deal with Alberta, Carney's government has said it is open to amending parts of the oil tanker ban. Eby argues that his province has major projects with real investment that should be fast-tracked instead, and his NDP government is negotiating its own memorandum of understanding with the federal government.
Under the agreement, Carney's government has committed to working towards designating Smith's pipeline proposal as a project in the "national interest" by October 2026, with the goal of enabling construction to begin by September 2027.
