Latest news with #NorthernGateway
Vancouver Sun
5 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Pipeline politics and economic corridor dominate first ministers meeting in Saskatoon
The national unity that coalesced because of U.S. President Donald Trump's threats against Canada was wobbly during the first ministers meeting in Saskatoon on Monday as B.C.'s deputy premier acknowledged a 'difference of opinion' with Alberta over the need for a new pipeline to Prince Rupert. With no project currently proposed for a pipeline to the north coast of the province, B.C. would rather see the existing Trans-Mountain Pipeline to Burnaby brought to full capacity through the dredging of Burrard Inlet, which would allow larger ships to carry more oil out of the Port of Vancouver. 'There's no proponent at this time. There's no project that is really there to look at,' said Niki Sharma, who is representing the province while Premier David Eby is on a 10-day trade mission to Asia. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'There is a pipeline that's operating through B.C. in the TMX, and I understand there's discussions about increasing the capacity of that. The projects that we're going to be bringing forward are about clean energy and critical minerals in our province and economic corridors.' Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said there could be a 'national unity crisis' if Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn't agree to remove the tanker ban off the Pacific coast and help increase Alberta's ability to export oil and gas to markets other than the U.S. She has also said that a new pipeline is needed to fulfil the 'grand bargain' that is decarbonization of her province's oilsands through carbon capture and storage. She estimates that project will cost at least $16 billion. The path that Smith wants to see the pipeline take is similar to the Northern Gateway project that was cancelled in 2016 in the face of opposition from numerous First Nations and the federal government. 'Having an energy corridor to northern British Columbia that includes a bitumen pipeline would be a good first step in the communique, understanding that we won't get a serious proponent from the private sector unless we address those underlying conditions,' she said Monday. Sharma said it is 'unfortunate that national unity is even on the table' and that she wants to see provincial and territorial leaders agree to a path that they can move forward together on. For his part, Carney said following the meeting that there is definitely the possibility for a pipeline to be built to B.C.'s north coast. 'It provides diversification of trade partners. It provides the development of new industries. It provides economic activity across the west and into the north. So, yes, there's real potential there,' said the prime minister. 'We took up a good deal of our time and discussions and potential to move forward on that. And if further developed, the federal government will look to advance it.' In a statement released after the meeting was over, Sharma reiterated her position that the province is focused on getting the North Coast Transmission Line built as well as possibly helping the Trans-Mountain Pipeline reach its full capacity. She said that building a 'theoretical' pipeline connecting to B.C.'s north coast is not a focus. 'We are focusing on shovel-ready projects,' Sharma said, 'not theoretical projects with no proponents. There is also an existing, underused pipeline Canadian taxpayers paid $34 billion for, with capacity to spare. By focusing on ready-to-go projects instead, we can work together to build Canada's stronger economy.' Where B.C. is in lock-step with its provincial counterparts, particularly those from the Western provinces, is the need for an economic corridor linking Prince Rupert and B.C.'s coast to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba and Grays Bay in Nunavut. At a meeting of the premiers of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as the northern territories in May, there was a collective agreement that key infrastructure such as roads, highways and railways need to be expanded between the western provinces to facilitate interprovincial trade. They also said that the infrastructure would help move goods such as critical minerals, uranium, potash and natural gas to markets both in Asia and along the eastern seaboard. Carney has made the idea of a 'One Canada Economy' a centrepiece of his plan to counter U.S. economic threats and said that trade barriers between provinces and territories need to be eliminated by July 1. His express goal for the meeting was for premiers to put a list of projects 'of national importance' on the table for discussion but, while he has also talked about the need to make the country an 'energy superpower,' he has tempered that by saying a pipeline is only on the table if there is consensus between premiers. Werner Antweiler, a UBC economics professor, said there is a lot of 'wishful thinking' floating around regarding the potential for a pipeline to B.C.'s north coast, and that unless a proponent steps forward and the tanker ban is lifted, it is unlikely to happen. At the same time, he said the wider conversation around an economic corridor is critical, particularly when it comes to the expansion of ports such as Prince Rupert and Churchill to get more goods to market. 'There are some very sensible proposals, especially about the port facilities. Some of this has been discussed for many years. It will come down to what is the amount of money that the federal government is putting into any of these projects,' said Antweiler. Reid Skelton-Morven, a Prince Rupert councillor and member of the Ts'msyen and Nisga'a Nations, said a $750-million expansion of the city's port is well underway. He said he was greatly supportive of the idea of a western economic corridor, but that it needs to be done in concert with all levels of government as well as First Nations. 'A decade ago, this might have been kind of really far fetched, but today, with sinking global markets, rising logistics costs and the pressure on existing infrastructure, we need big and visionary moves like this one,' said Skelton-Morven. 'These projects can't just pass through all of our communities, they need to build them up from the ground up.' alazenby@
Vancouver Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
Pipeline politics and economic corridor dominate first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon
The national unity that coalesced because of U.S. President Donald Trump's threats against Canada was wobbly during the first ministers' meeting in Saskatoon on Monday as B.C.'s deputy premier acknowledged a 'difference of opinion' with Alberta over the need for a new pipeline to Prince Rupert. With no project currently proposed for a pipeline to the north coast of the province, B.C. would rather see the existing Trans-Mountain Pipeline to Burnaby brought to full capacity through the dredging of Burrard Inlet, which would allow larger ships to carry more oil out of the Port of Vancouver. 'There's no proponent at this time. There's no project that is really there to look at,' said Niki Sharma, who is representing the province while Premier David Eby is on a 10-day trade mission to Asia. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'There is a pipeline that's operating through B.C. in the TMX, and I understand there's discussions about increasing the capacity of that. The projects that we're going to be bringing forward are about clean energy and critical minerals in our province and economic corridors.' Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has said there could be a 'national unity crisis' if Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn't agree to remove the tanker ban off the Pacific coast and help increase Alberta's ability to export oil and gas to markets other than the U.S. She has also said that a new pipeline is needed to fulfil the 'grand bargain' that is decarbonization of her province's oilsands through carbon capture and storage. She estimates that project will cost at least $16 billion. The path that Smith wants to see the pipeline take is similar to the Northern Gateway project that was cancelled in 2016 in the face of opposition from numerous First Nations and the federal government. 'Having an energy corridor to northern British Columbia that includes a bitumen pipeline would be a good first step in the communique, understanding that we won't get a serious proponent from the private sector unless we address those underlying conditions,' she said Monday. Sharma said it is 'unfortunate that national unity is even on the table' and that she wants to see provincial and territorial leaders agree to a path that they can move forward together on. For his part, Carney said following the meeting that there is definitely the possibility for a pipeline to be built to B.C.'s north coast. 'It provides diversification of trade partners. It provides the development of new industries. It provides economic activity across the west and into the north. So, yes, there's real potential there,' said the prime minister. 'We took up a good deal of our time and discussions and potential to move forward on that. And if further developed, the federal government will look to advance it.' In a statement released after the meeting was over, Sharma reiterated her position that the province is focused on getting the North Coast Transmission Line built as well as possibly helping the Trans-Mountain Pipeline reach its full capacity. She said that building a 'theoretical' pipeline connecting to B.C.'s pipeline is not a focus. 'We are focusing on shovel-ready projects,' Sharma said, 'not theoretical projects with no proponents. There is also an existing, underused pipeline Canadian taxpayers paid $34 billion for, with capacity to spare. By focusing on ready-to-go projects instead, we can work together to build Canada's stronger economy.' Where B.C. is in lock-step with its provincial counterparts, particularly those from the Western provinces, is the need for an economic corridor linking Prince Rupert and B.C.'s coast to the Port of Churchill in Manitoba and Grays Bay in Nunavut. At a meeting of the premiers of B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba as well as the northern territories in May, there was a collective agreement that key infrastructure such as roads, highways and railways need to be expanded between the western provinces to facilitate interprovincial trade. They also said that the infrastructure would help move goods such as critical minerals, uranium, potash and natural gas to markets both in Asia and along the eastern seaboard. Carney has made the idea of a 'One Canada Economy' a centrepiece of his plan to counter U.S. economic threats and said that trade barriers between provinces and territories need to be eliminated by July 1. His express goal for the meeting was for premiers to put a list of projects 'of national importance' on the table for discussion but, while he has also talked about the need to make the country an 'energy superpower,' he has tempered that by saying a pipeline is only on the table if there is consensus between premiers. Werner Antweiler, a UBC economics professor, said there is a lot of 'wishful thinking' floating around regarding the potential for a pipeline to B.C.'s north coast, and that unless a proponent steps forward and the tanker ban is lifted, it is unlikely to happen. At the same time, he said the wider conversation around an economic corridor is critical, particularly when it comes to the expansion of ports such as Prince Rupert and Churchill to get more goods to market. 'There are some very sensible proposals, especially about the port facilities. Some of this has been discussed for many years. It will come down to what is the amount of money that the federal government is putting into any of these projects,' said Antweiler. Reid Skelton-Morven, a Prince Rupert councillor and member of the Ts'msyen and Nisga'a Nations, said a $750-million expansion of the city's port is well underway. He said he was greatly supportive of the idea of a western economic corridor, but that it needs to be done in concert with all levels of government as well as First Nations. 'A decade ago, this might have been kind of really far fetched, but today, with sinking global markets, rising logistics costs and the pressure on existing infrastructure, we need big and visionary moves like this one,' said Skelton-Morven. 'These projects can't just pass through all of our communities, they need to build them up from the ground up.' alazenby@
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Varcoe: Ottawa's new resources minister promises clean slate, but oilpatch looks for 'concrete actions' on new projects
In a world of political messaging, Prime Minister Mark Carney wants to build, baby, build. Article content Article content Ultimately, it will be concrete action — not just words — that will determine how the relationship between Tim Hodgson and the Canadian oil and gas sector unfolds in the coming months. Article content In his first major speech since taking over the portfolio, Hodgson sent a clear signal Friday to a Calgary business audience that he wants to reset the often-testy interaction between Ottawa and the country's largest export industry. Article content Article content Article content More significantly, he plainly backed the idea that Canadian oil and gas can grow the economy and be a tool for global stability, supplying other countries with energy. 'I want to be very clear. In the new economy we are building — Canada will no longer be defined by delay. We will be defined by delivery,' Hodgson told the Calgary Chamber of Commerce audience — twice, in case anyone missed it the first time. Article content 'Energy is Canada's superpower. It gives us an opportunity to build the strongest economy in the G7.' Article content It was a stark contrast to the general indifference, or active hostility, that seeped out of the pores of the Trudeau government, which had little desire to see Canada significantly boost oil and gas output or build export infrastructure. Article content Article content 'He really extended an olive branch to the energy sector,' said Sonya Savage, a former Alberta energy and environment minister in the UCP government. Article content The previous Trudeau government did get the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project finished, with federal government money required to buy and build it. But other pipeline projects, such as Northern Gateway, Energy East and Keystone XL, floundered. Article content Contentious Liberal government policies such as the Impact Assessment Act and the incoming oilpatch emissions cap also fractured the relationship and broke any trust.
Vancouver Sun
23-05-2025
- Business
- Vancouver Sun
B.C premier not backing Alberta's proposal to revive Northern Gateway
OTTAWA — British Columbia Premier David Eby isn't saying 'no' to Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith's pitch to revive the cancelled Northern Gateway pipeline project to the West Coast, but his evasiveness on the topic speaks volumes. Eby was quick to steer the discussion to 'points of agreement' when asked about Northern Gateway Thursday at the Western Premiers' Conference in Yellowknife. 'I know Danielle's priority is to get heavy oil to tidewater. She is very unambiguous about that. My priority is to… decarbonize and drive our economy in British Columbia,' said Eby, who happened to be seated next to Smith in a conference-ending media availability. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. 'If Premier Smith is able to convince the federal government to build another pipeline through British Columbia, or a private proponent, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.' In the days leading up to the conference Smith called for the project to not only be revived but also fast-tracked , saying that most direct route to ship Alberta oil to emerging markets in Asia was through B.C.'s northern coast. Northern Gateway, an initiative of Calgary-based pipeline company Enbridge Inc., was to carry Alberta oil to a deep-water marine terminal in northwestern B.C., where it would then be exported via tanker. The project was terminated by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in late 2016, one year after he ordered a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic off B.C.'s north coast. The tanker ban was later entrenched in Liberal legislation. Eby said on Thursday that he was averse to 'opening up the pristine north coast to tanker traffic,' especially with the new Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (TMX) not filled to capacity. 'If the urgency is to get product to tidewater, I would start (with) ensuring that this publicly owned infrastructure is used to its full capacity,' said Eby. TMX, which ends in B.C.'s Lower Mainland, has been running at around 80 per cent capacity since coming online in May 2024, according to the Canada Energy Regulator. However, industry experts say it's optimal for oil pipelines to run somewhat below full capacity to give producers the flexibility to reroute product to different markets. Smith said that, pipeline or no pipeline, she saw tremendous potential in B.C.'s northern coast as a hub for Canadian exports, and was especially bullish on the Port of Prince Rupert. '(Prince Rupert) is the best (point of) access to get all of our products… to the Asian markets,' said Smith. She added that products shipped to Asia from Prince Rupert arrive weeks sooner than those shipped from the U.S. via the Gulf of Mexico. A spokesperson for Enbridge said the company is once burned, twice shy, and would require a more predictable investment climate before renewing a pipeline project to route heavy Alberta oil to tidewater. 'While we are pleased to see Canadian policymakers discussing ways to make Canada an energy superpower, any new pipeline project would require careful consideration and real provincial and federal legislative change,' wrote Enbridge communications advisor Gina Sutherland in an email to National Post. 'This includes identifying energy projects as being in the national interest, implementing globally competitive energy and carbon policies, simplifying regulation, reducing regulatory timelines and enhancing the Indigenous loan guarantee program to allow for more Indigenous consultation, engagement and direct participation in energy projects.' ' We need clear evidence of a supportive framework before considering a major project like Northern Gateway.' National Post rmohamed@ Get more deep-dive National Post political coverage and analysis in your inbox with the Political Hack newsletter, where Ottawa bureau chief Stuart Thomson and political analyst Tasha Kheiriddin get at what's really going on behind the scenes on Parliament Hill every Wednesday and Friday, exclusively for subscribers. Sign up here. Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here .
Calgary Herald
23-05-2025
- Business
- Calgary Herald
Eby cool to Smith's proposal to revive Northern Gateway
OTTAWA — British Columbia Premier David Eby isn't saying 'no' to Alberta counterpart Danielle Smith's pitch to revive the cancelled Northern Gateway pipeline project, but his evasiveness on the topic speaks volumes. Article content Article content Eby was quick to steer the discussion to 'points of agreement' when asked about Northern Gateway Thursday at the Western Premiers' Conference in Yellowknife. Article content Article content 'I know Danielle's priority is to get heavy oil to tidewater. She is very unambiguous about that. My priority is to… decarbonize and drive our economy in British Columbia,' said Eby, who happened to be seated next to Smith in a conference-ending media availability. Article content Article content 'If Premier Smith is able to convince the federal government to build another pipeline through British Columbia, or a private proponent, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.' Article content In the days leading up to the conference Smith called for the shelved pipeline project to not only be revived but also fast-tracked, saying that most direct route to ship Alberta oil to emerging markets in Asia was through B.C.'s northern coast. Article content Northern Gateway, an initiative of Calgary-based pipeline company Enbridge Inc., sought to carry Alberta oil to a deep-water marine terminal in northwestern B.C., where it would then be exported via tanker. Article content Article content The project was terminated by former prime minister Justin Trudeau in late 2016, one year after he ordered a moratorium on crude oil tanker traffic off B.C.'s north coast. Article content Article content The tanker ban was later entrenched in Liberal legislation. Article content Eby said on Thursday that he was averse to 'opening up the pristine north coast to tanker traffic,' especially with the new Trans Mountain Pipeline expansion (TMX) not yet filled to the brim. Article content 'If the urgency is to get product to tidewater, I would start (with) ensuring that this publicly owned infrastructure is used to its full capacity,' said Eby.
