Carney to Keep North BC Tanker Ban as Alberta to Unveil Pipeline Proposal

Article content

(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Mark Carney announced billions of dollars in federal funding for energy, mining and transportation projects in Canada’s west coast province of British Columbia.

Article content

The move is meant to boost Premier David Eby’s top priorities for his province, but also serves to soften the blow of a more controversial announcement: Alberta’s bid to build a new crude oil pipeline through BC’s mountainous terrain.

Article content

Article content

The route of the pipeline has yet to be finalized, but Carney said that his government will maintain an existing ban on oil tankers loading on BC’s north coast. It is unclear whether that entirely rules out a northern route for Alberta’s prospective pipeline. 

Article content

Article content

Carney is visiting both provinces on Thursday, first stopping by Vancouver to meet with Eby and unveil the “Canada-British Columbia Cooperative Prosperity Agreement,” laying out a framework for advancing multiple major projects along the Pacific coast. 

Article content

Article content

The Canadian leader will then travel to Calgary for an evening announcement with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, where they’ll provide details on a formal pipeline proposal that would ship oil sands crude to Asian markets.

Article content

The BC agreement includes C$3.5 billion ($2.5 billion) in federal money for the North Coast Transmission Line, a project aimed at providing clean power to critical mineral mines and natural gas export infrastructure in the province’s remote northern region. 

Article content

It also promises C$500 million to expand the Red Chris Mine, a copper mine in northern BC, and a further C$3 billion for the George Massey Tunnel Replacement Project, a new 8-lane highway tunnel under the Fraser River near Vancouver.

Article content

Eby said the agreement doesn’t require his government to support any pipeline proposal from Alberta, but he recognizes that the province doesn’t have the constitutional authority to block it. 

Article content

Article content

“We will not be going to court to fight a pipeline project. Instead, we will ensure we fulfill our constitutional obligations in good faith. Pipelines are federal jurisdiction. That’s why this agreement matters,” he said. 

Article content

Carney also promised his government’s support for upgrading and expanding BC’s ports, as well as accelerating the permitting and financing for liquefied natural gas export terminals — including the second phase of LNG Canada and the new Ksi Lisims terminal near the Alaska border.

Article content

“Canada and British Columbia will work together to accelerate the projects that will unlock Canada’s full potential as a global energy superpower – starting with LNG,” Carney said in prepared remarks. 

Article content