Federal Liberals' Energy Agenda Lacks Support for Alberta Oil Pipelines

In a recent announcement, Prime Minister Mark Carney delineated five national priority projects, notably absent of any pipeline initiatives. This omission raises crucial questions about Canada's aspirations to become an energy superpower, as the absence of new pipelines means a continued reliance on U.S. markets for oil exports, often at discounted rates. While the proposed projects—a copper mine in Saskatchewan, enhanced liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities in British Columbia, a nuclear reactor in Ontario, a container port in Montreal, and a copper and gold mine in British Columbia—promise a substantial contribution to the GDP, estimated at $60 billion, this represents less than three percent of Canada’s overall economic output.

Ironically, the very projects Carney champions are a response to the economic uncertainties wrought by the Trump trade war, meant to diversify Canada’s reliance on the U.S. However, without the necessary pipeline infrastructure, Canada remains tethered to the American market, which benefits from acquiring Canadian heavy oil at lower prices while selling lighter crude globally at premium rates. This predicament appears to serve U.S. interests more than Canada’s, and critics are left to ponder the motivations behind the Liberal government’s sustained aversion to expanding pipeline capacity.

The Trudeau administration’s Bill C-69, aptly dubbed the “no more pipelines act,” reflects a prevailing mindset that Carney’s government seems reluctant to challenge. Even in the latest batch of proposed megaprojects, the absence of pipeline projects is glaring. Future considerations include potential wind farms in Atlantic Canada, funding for carbon capture initiatives in Alberta, and various infrastructure upgrades, but these may not yield immediate benefits for the oil sector or the economy at large.

During his visit to Edmonton, Carney met with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who expressed optimism about their discussions on provincial concerns. However, skepticism remains as Carney’s history as a climate envoy, advocating for significant reductions in fossil fuel use, leaves many doubting his commitment to Alberta’s oil industry. The narrative of a climate-conscious leadership continues, and with it, the question lingers: does the Liberal government truly consider Alberta's energy sector a priority, or is it merely paying lip service while pursuing a climate agenda that sidelines oil?