Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has announced she is actively negotiating a memorandum of understanding with the federal government, a significant development in provincial-federal relations. Smith made the revelation while speaking at the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) Fall 2025 convention on Tuesday, November 18, 2025.
Key Negotiation Points and Pipeline Ambitions
The Premier outlined her primary objectives for the MOU, which include the removal or substantial overhaul of what she calls the "nine bad laws" and a formal agreement to construct a new bitumen pipeline. Smith emphasized Alberta's strategic energy goals, stating the province is pursuing pipeline development in all directions.
"We're working on getting pipelines in all directions, north, south, east and west, with economic corridors built to the northeast coast, Hudson Bay and to Ontario," Smith told convention delegates. "We know that the world needs more Alberta energy, not less. That's the reason why we're doing this."
Timeline and Recent Developments
The provincial government had initially targeted completing the agreement by the Grey Cup game held the previous Sunday. However, negotiations have continued past this deadline, particularly after Smith's desired West Coast bitumen pipeline was notably absent from Ottawa's preliminary list of major projects selected for fast-tracking earlier this month.
Addressing Rural Municipal Concerns
During the RMA convention, Smith faced questions from delegates about longstanding issues affecting rural communities, particularly unpaid oil and gas taxes and orphaned wells. The Premier acknowledged the severity of the situation, admitting that recovering funds from some bankrupt companies might be impossible.
Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, who also addressed the convention, identified resolving these issues as his "No. 1 priority" for rural Alberta. He delivered a strong message to the industry, stating he expects every oil and gas company to fulfill their tax obligations.
"I have one priority when it comes to rural Alberta before any other — is making sure that every single ratepayer, personal or corporate, does their damn jobs and pays their taxes," Williams asserted. "I'm going to work with my colleague, the minister of energy, and let him know that I think that the Alberta Energy Regulator has a fundamental role to play in making sure this happens."
The provincial government's dual focus on securing federal cooperation for energy expansion while addressing critical municipal financial concerns highlights the complex challenges facing Alberta's leadership as they navigate both economic development and local governance issues.
