On November 27, the federal and Alberta governments signed a memorandum of understanding providing political support for the construction of a new oil pipeline from Alberta to the northern coast of British Columbia (BC).
The pipeline, aimed at Asian markets, would transport 10,000 barrels per day of oil sands from Alberta to the Pacific Coast.
The federal government’s conditions for the pipeline to be expedited through its Large Project Review Process include that it be built with private funding, that Alberta increase its industrial carbon tax to $130 per tonne, and that it reduces methane emissions by 75% over the next 10 years. If these conditions are met, the federal government has agreed to suspend Alberta’s Clean Power Regulations, lift caps on greenhouse gas emissions from the oil and gas industry, and, if necessary, apply exceptions to the federal Tanker Ban.
At the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Mark Carney said, “This agreement will make Canada a stronger, more independent, more resilient and more sustainable country.”
However, British Columbia Premier David Eby has strongly opposed approval of a new pipeline to the West Coast, criticizing British Columbia for being excluded from the review process and expressing concern that the proposed new pipeline would interfere with “realizable (LNG) projects” already backed by private companies in British Columbia.
The Coastal First Nations, a coalition of nine indigenous peoples along the Pacific coast, also issued a statement expressing their opposition, saying, “There is no technology that can completely clean up oil spills in the ocean or rivers. When crude oil leaks, it destroys everything we have built.”
Following the signing of the memorandum, Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Canadian Identity, Culture and Official Languages, announced his resignation from his position. Before entering politics, Guilbeault was known as an environmental activist and served as Minister of the Environment in the Trudeau administration.