Alberta and Ontario sign new agreements to advance pipelines, railways
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At a Monday press conference in Calgary, Smith and Ford announced their plans to work collaboratively in a push to make Canada less reliant on its southern counterparts, which comes after United States President Donald Trump has continually dangled the threat of tariffs over the country.
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'The world changed in November,' Smith said.
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'I think Canadians understand that we've got to start acting like a country. We've got to start supporting each other, and I think that is the prevailing sense that in the country.'
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The first memorandum of understanding looks to explore ways to develop trade corridors and energy infrastructure to connect Alberta and Ontario's oil, gas and critical minerals to global markets. It includes supporting industry efforts to build new oil and gas pipeline projects. The two provinces will look to add more rail lines to enhance rail and port infrastructure in James Bay and southern Ontario.
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Smith called on the federal government to cooperate and remove all federal barriers that 'have harmed' Canada's energy sector growth. In the memorandum, she said they're asking the federal government to repeal or amend the Impact Assessment Act, the oiler tanker ban, the net zero power regulation and oil production cap, and repeal the electric vehicle mandate.
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'Moving federal barriers will allow Alberta and Ontario to attract investment and project partners we need to get shovels in the ground, grow industries and create jobs,' Smith said.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney was in Calgary over the weekend for the Stampede. He told the media that he believes the Bitumen pipeline to the northwest British Columbia coast will very likely be on the federal government's large project list.
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'I think that that is a very positive sentiment,' Smith said.
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The two provinces will also look to develop nuclear energy solutions to meet the increased demand for electricity grids.
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In the second memorandum of understanding, Alberta committed to prioritizing the purchase of Canadian-made vehicles for its government fleets to support Ontario's automotive industry.
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'It sets the stage for Ontario's government to work with Alberta to explore ways to find additional opportunities, to improve the interprovincial trade of liquor products, to create even more opportunity for our producers,' Smith said.
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