Ontario, Alberta, Saskatchewan want to study feasibility of west-east pipeline
The government of Ontario, working with Alberta and Saskatchewan, wants to explore the feasibility of a new west-east pipeline to bring western oil and gas to southern Ontario refineries and ports.
Ontario issued a request for proposals to conduct a study "exploring options for establishing a new economic and energy corridor" between the provinces, according to a government news release Thursday.
"By advancing a Canadian energy corridor from Alberta to Ontario, we are securing long-term energy access for families and businesses, creating thousands of jobs, and opening new doors for trade and investment, while strengthening our position as a global energy leader," said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in the news release.
"This corridor will help get Alberta's responsibly produced energy to markets across Canada and around the world."
U.S. tariffs prompt pipeline talksU.S. tariff threats this year have revived discussions around expanding Canada's pipeline capacity in order to make the country's oil and gas industry — which is closely tied to the U.S. market — more self-reliant.
In February, then-Natural Resources Minister Jonathan Wilkinson told reporters that Canada's energy infrastructure was vulnerable to potential U.S. tariffs, and the country should weigh building a new west-east pipeline.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said in Thursday's release that the pipeline is needed to respond to economic threats from the south.
"Canada can no longer rely on energy infrastructure that lies outside of our borders and can be shut down at a moment's notice by another country," he said.
"It's time for us to build cross-Canada infrastructure within our borders so we can protect our energy security, find new markets for Canadian energy and resources and create new jobs."
Ford and Smith signed a memorandum of understanding in July to collaborate on building pipelines and trade infrastructure across provincial borders, with Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe signing on later that month.
Public opinion around pipelines remains divided in Canada, despite some increased support in light of U.S. tariff threats, according to an online Angus Reid survey of Canadians in January. Support for Energy East, the west-to-east pipeline proposal that was cancelled in 2017, increased from 58 to 65 per cent since 2019, the poll suggested.
But criticism persists about expanding pipeline capacity as Canada is committed to reducing emissions and transitioning away from oil and gas energy in the midst of a climate crisis.
The Ontario government's release says "pipelines remain the safest, most reliable and cost-effective way to transport the energy Canadians use every day."
The new request for proposals for a feasibility study is open to companies across Canada.
cbc.ca
