B.C. Premier David Eby says there was no “significant update” on a proposed oil pipeline to the West Coast during what he described as a “cordial” meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Wednesday.
Smith and Carney signed a memorandum of understanding in November that broadly laid out a path forward for a new bitumen pipeline to the B.C. coast. Carney has said that the project can only advance with a private proponent and the “full partnership” of Alberta and B.C. First Nations.
But Eby — and some B.C. Indigenous communities — have raised concerns about such a project.
Wednesday was the first time the B.C premier met with both Smith and Carney since the latter two signed their agreement.
Eby said “the short answer is no,” when asked if Smith or Carney had signalled that there is a private proponent for the project or any buy-in from impacted Indigenous groups at this stage.
B.C.’s Eby says it’s ‘very clear’ Carney, Alberta’s Smith are driving pipeline after meeting
“There hasn’t been any significant update in terms of manifesting a pipeline in any significant way and our position remains the same,” he told David Cochrane, host of CBC’s Power & Politics, on Wednesday.
Some concerns that Eby has raised in the past are that the pipeline could distract from projects that already have private proponents and support of Indigenous groups.
Despite his concerns, Eby said the meeting was productive overall.
“It was a cordial conversation, it was at points borderline friendly. We have a lot in common in terms of issues we want to deal with together and we’re trying to focus on those,” he said of Smith.
Speaking to reporters following Wednesday’s meeting, Smith echoed Eby’s sentiment, describing the meeting as “productive.”
Carney meets with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and B.C. Premier David Eby
“We’ve pledged to keep the premier in the loop,” Smith said. “I would say that he’s grateful that we had the meeting and that he looks forward to continued updates.”
Even though Alberta’s proposal is still in the development stage, Carney was insistent during Tuesday’s question period that his agreement with Smith “will build a pipeline to tidewater.”
Eby told Cochrane that he has the impression Carney is firmly behind the project.
“It’s certainly very clear to me that this is a project that’s being driven by the province of Alberta and the prime minister,” Eby said.
Smith has indicated that she plans to bring forward a proposal to the federal Major Projects Office later this year, in hope that clearing that hurdle will attract a private proponent. She said Wednesday that the proposal will also hopefully garner buy-in from First Nations groups.
“There’ll be a little bit more clarity about what the route is and I think that that will go a long way towards getting the support from First Nations, which I think is really important,” Smith said.
Alberta to B.C. pipeline ‘has to happen for our country’: Nova Scotia premier
The project also has the backing of other premiers, including Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston also said he was behind the idea of a pipeline to the West Coast during a separate interview on Power & Politics.
“That pipeline has to happen for our country. So I’m hopeful that we can move forward on that,” Houston told Cochrane.
Until Alberta brings its proposal forward, the B.C. premier said he’s focused on other issues.
“They’re going to work on it with the feds and they’ve committed to keep us updated and that’s going to be what it is,” Eby said.
“There’s a lot of other pieces and we are committed to do that, regardless of what happens on the other file.”
All of Canada’s premiers are in Ottawa this week as Canada gears up for trade talks with the U.S. and Mexico, which are slated to start in earnest in the coming months as the three countries review the North American trade pact.
