A new political fight has opened across Western Canada after British Columbia Premier David Eby raised concerns about high level pipeline discussions involving Alberta, Saskatchewan and Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government. Eby says his province has been left out of conversations about a possible heavy oil pipeline that would cross northern British Columbia and deliver crude to a deep water port on the Pacific.
The issue escalated this week after Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe confirmed that his government is taking part in talks between Alberta and Ottawa. Those discussions focus on options to expand export capacity for prairie oil producers and create a new route to global markets through the B.C. north coast. Eby said he was not notified about the meetings and first learned of them through public reporting.
Inside the B.C. Legislature, Eby criticized both Alberta’s government and his own provincial Conservative opposition. He said the Conservative caucus has been communicating with Alberta about potential northern routes and accused them of discussing the idea without B.C.’s involvement. Conservative Leader John Rustad acknowledged he has spoken with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and contacts in Saskatchewan about the project. He said his party supports efforts to connect Alberta oil to overseas buyers and reduce reliance on the United States market.
Alberta has been promoting a new west coast pipeline for much of the year. Smith has said her government has been in conversations with major pipeline companies to examine route options leading to the Port of Prince Rupert. Early discussions have centred on a target capacity of up to one million barrels per day and the need for a private sector proponent capable of taking on a large scale project.
The Carney government has been developing a new framework called the One Canadian Economy Act, which is designed to speed up approvals for major national projects. Alberta has pushed for potential west coast pipelines to be designated as projects of national interest, placing them under the oversight of the Major Projects Office in Calgary. Officials in Alberta and Ottawa have been working toward a memorandum of understanding outlining next steps, though no finalized agreement has been released.
Saskatchewan has framed its participation as a chance to secure a stake in future export routes. Moe has said his province wants to ensure any new infrastructure benefits Saskatchewan producers and provides long term market access for heavy oil.
Eby has argued that any project crossing B.C.’s land or waters requires early consultation with his government and affected First Nations. He raised concerns about the federal tanker law that restricts large crude carriers on the north coast and said any change to that policy could impact local marine industries and coastal communities.
At this stage, no official project proposal has been filed and no consortium of companies has been publicly identified. Routes, timelines and regulatory requirements remain undetermined. The emerging dispute highlights the political challenges surrounding new pipeline development and suggests that any future west coast project will face significant negotiations long before construction planning begins.
