“This MOU (Memorandum of Understanding) Prime Minister Mark Carney signed withAlberta Premier Danielle Smith to build another oil pipeline) is a blow to Canada’s climate ambition, our economic prospects, Reconciliation with First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, and national unity. This is a gift to the oil industry and Alberta Premier Smith, at the expense of practically everyone else.”
A Statement from Environmental Defence on Nation-Betraying Alberta-Canada MOU
Posted November 27th, 2025 on Niagara At Large
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney shake hands on building another pipleline
Toronto – We denounce the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) announced today between Alberta and Canada, and firmly reject the notion that it is in any way a bargain for people living in Canada. This deal is even worse than we had anticipated.
This MOU is a blow to Canada’s climate ambition, our economic prospects, Reconciliation with First Nations and Indigenous Peoples, and national unity. This is a gift to the oil industry and Alberta Premier Smith, at the expense of practically everyone else.
A pipeline with no proponent, no market, no plan, and no consent makes no sense. Oil demand is expected to peak by the end of this decade. Pushing through with a new oil sands pipeline will lead to billions in stranded assets and cleanup liabilities. 41 civil society groups have come out in opposition to this project. Coastal First Nations have been firm that they do not grant their consent. More Canadians will join us and this project will face legal challenges, growing public opposition, and it will be fought every step of the way.
More information:
- The MOU commits to building a new pipeline moving at least one million barrels per day of high-carbon and high-cost oil from Alberta’s tar sands. This will be in addition to a further expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline.
- Filling this pipeline and expansion would require more oil sands mining, leading to more carbon pollution, more tailings, and worse impacts for communities near the tar sands. The pipeline to B.C. would have to cross some of the most challenging terrain in Canada. The impacts of construction would be severe, and the impacts of a spill, devastating.
- To enable this, the federal government is prepared to declare the pipeline a project of national interest and adjust the oil tanker ban to allow crude oil tankers in the Hecate Strait, which is some of the most treacherous, globally significant coastal waters in Canada.
- Any exemption from the tanker ban would effectively end the ban. That’s how bans work. This is an unacceptable risk, which is why Coastal First Nations have been adamant in fighting to keep the ban intact.
After decades of experimentation, CCS still remains an ineffective technology and extremely expensive. In the MOU, Alberta and Canada have promised more subsidies and regulatory changes to develop the CCS pipeline.
However, even in a scenario where CCS works, the Pathways CCS pipeline would not offset emissions from the oil that would presumably fill a new pipeline. An additional 1 million barrels of oil production would add just under 29 MTs of GHG emissions each year. Beyond its limited climate impact, a carbon capture pipeline also poses serious health risks. CO2 is colourless, odourless and heavier than air, which can lead to injury or death if it leaks from a pipeline.
Strengthened industrial carbon pricing in Alberta is certainly necessary – but this doesn’t excuse the removal of the oil and gas emissions cap, the suspension of clean electricity regulations and certainly doesn’t excuse another pipeline. The same can be said for the methane regulations. These are desperately needed and long overdue.
ABOUT ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENCE (environmentaldefence.ca): Environmental Defence is a leading Canadian environmental advocacy organization that works with government, industry and individuals to defend clean water, a safe climate and healthy communities.
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Mr.Carney is a clever slippery banker! I think he knows that this pipeline is doomed but by supporting it he pacifies the Albertans and keeps himself in their good books! The pipeline itself will benefit Canada financially if it succeeds. My economics teacher in 1980 told our class that he moved to Canada because he believed that Canada was positioned to become one the richest and most powerful nations in the world! Not sure he would agree with how the country has been managed! The situation reminds me of how chemicals produced in Canada are allowed to be exported from Canada but are not allowed to be used domestically. Then we do hair analysis of our children and wonder why our children are full of these banned chemicals that are used to grow produce overseas which is imported and eaten by our population. Will more oil being exported cause more enrironmental issues for the world? Not sure what the solution is?
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