The province is set to use $14 million for the early regulatory work
Alberta is set to submit an application for a new oil pipeline in Calgary, Premier Danielle Smith announced, according to BNN Bloomberg.
During a news conference, the premier stated that $14 million will be committed to the project and said that it was an important opportunity for the country.
“What stands before us right now is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to unlock our wealth and resources and become a world-leading energy superpower,” said Smith.
“There are billions of people around the world living in energy poverty who demand a higher standard of living. This is not just a question of Alberta’s energy. It is a global, moral imperative,” she added.
The province is planning to develop the project with the backing of an advisory group that included Enbridge Inc., Trans Mountain Corp., and South Bow Corp, which were three major crude pipeline operators in Canada.
Notably, there were no companies that have moved to build the pipeline. While the route of the pipeline has yet to be determined, Smith said a pipeline should go to the Port of Prince Rupert in British Columbia.
British Columbia Premier David Eby criticized the move by saying that Smith continued to push a project forward which was entirely funded by taxpayers with no support from the private sector. He added that he was only willing to work with the province on projects that had real support from the private sector and were not “entirely taxpayer-funded wedge politics.”
Smith assured that while the $14 million will be used to fund the early regulatory work, taxpayers will not be paying to build the entire pipeline. She said that the initial funding is expected to draw in enough confidence among investors, leading to the private sector to take over as well as First Nations potentially taking ownership stakes.
However, Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative and elected chief of the Heiltsuk First nation, stated that the project would negatively impact the ecosystem along the northern coast, according to CBC.
“This is not something that we would ever support,” said Slett.
Slett cited an oil spill that occurred in 2016 near Bella Bella in Heiltsuk territories, which ushered the passing of a moratorium that restricted oil tankers in northern British Columbia waters.
“We've seen what the impacts can be on that scale and, you know, you put in a major oil crude tanker ... it would absolutely destroy and devastate the coast,” said Slett.
The proposal will be filed to the new federal Major Projects Office, with the submission projected for spring next year.
