Energy minister says Alberta needs B.C. approval for pipeline

Canada’s energy minister says Alberta cannot move ahead with its proposed westbound pipeline without the support of B.C., after weeks of both western premiers clashing over a Pacific pipeline project.

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Canada’s energy minister says Alberta cannot move ahead with its proposed westbound pipeline without the support of British Columbia, after weeks of both western premiers clashing over a Pacific pipeline project.

Energy Minister Tim Hodgson told the Senate on Wednesday that any future pipeline linking Alberta’s oil sands to the Pacific Coast will depend on cooperation between the provinces that are in conflict currently.

“To build, you need the support of the jurisdiction you build through and you need the support of First Nations,” Hodgson said in response to Conservative Senator Yonah Martin, who accused the government of blocking “every route to the ocean.”

“The proponent — in this case, the province of Alberta — needs to do the work to attract investment if they want to build,” Hodgson said. “That’s something between the province of Alberta and the province of British Columbia. We will be a constructive participant in that three-way discussion.”

Hodgson said Alberta is expected to bring forward its proposal in the spring of 2026, calling further debate “hypothetical” until a detailed plan is tabled. He also noted that Smith has expressed optimism about the state of talks, saying the province is “in a good place.”

Alberta’s government has pledged to explore a provincially backed pipeline through British Columbia to open new export access for Canadian crude to Asian markets.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has also warned Ottawa on Thursday that if Alberta doesn’t get a West Coast pipeline, that her province may look south of the border for a partner.

“Albertans are questioning whether Canada works,” Smith told CTV’s Vassy Kapelos. “I suppose I could just go down to the United States and start working with American counterparts to see if we can build more pipelines. They’ve expressed interest in restarting the Keystone XL, and I suppose we could maybe sell another 2 million barrels a day additional to the United States.”

The province’s previous major westbound project, the Northern Gateway pipeline, was cancelled by the Trudeau government in 2016.

The comments come as a new Angus Reid Institute poll shows strong public backing for such a project.

The survey, released Thursday, found that 59 per cent of Canadians support building a pipeline from northern Alberta to the B.C. coast, including a majority of British Columbians at 56 per cent.

Only one-third of B.C. respondents opposed the idea, even though NDP Premier David Eby has consistently opposed the project, even suggesting on Wednesday that the project “doesn’t exist.”

The poll also found a national shift toward prioritizing economic growth over environmental concerns, with 57 per cent of respondents now saying they would put the economy ahead of climate considerations in energy policy.

Speaking in Ottawa at a press conference, Prime Minister Mark Carney doubled down on the Liberal government’s position, saying that he believes in nation-building projects if they meet conditions to his government’s potential support.

Conditions include compliance with current environmental regulations, support of Indigenous communities and jurisdictions of which the project involves.