Alberta's Premier Smith Unleashes on Ottawa: Federal Government 'Dodging Responsibility' on Pipeline Route Decision

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has launched a scathing critique against the federal government, accusing Ottawa of outright shirking its fundamental responsibilities regarding the final approval of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion’s contentious route. In a forceful statement, Smith articulated her profound frustration, asserting that a project of such national significance should not be sidelined by bureaucratic maneuvers or passed off to regulatory bodies to navigate complex provincial land-use issues.

The focal point of this renewed dispute is the Canada Energy Regulator's (CER) recent decision concerning a segment of the pipeline.

The CER approved a reroute for a portion of the line near Bridal Falls, British Columbia, specifically to circumvent an Indigenous cultural site. While the rerouting itself is a complex matter, Smith's ire is directed at the condition attached to this approval: Trans Mountain Corporation must now apply to the B.C.

government for a new environmental assessment certificate. This step, critically, necessitates engagement with the Fraser Valley Regional District, adding layers of potential delay and complexity.

Premier Smith unequivocally stated that this pipeline, a monumental undertaking for Canada's energy security and economic prosperity, is fundamentally a 'federal undertaking.' Consequently, she argues, the onus of its successful completion, including navigating any and all routing challenges, rests squarely on the shoulders of the federal government.

"This is a pipeline that the federal government was the one that wanted built," Smith declared, emphasizing Ottawa's pivotal role in acquiring the project when its original owner abandoned it. "They were the ones who bought it. They were the ones who said they were going to get it built. And now they're trying to foist off their responsibility onto the Canada Energy Regulator."

Smith's message to Ottawa is clear and unyielding: it’s time to take political responsibility.

She contends that the federal government is attempting to distance itself from the project's completion challenges, pushing these complex decisions down to a regulatory body and into the realm of provincial jurisdiction. This, she insists, is unacceptable for a project that the federal government itself championed and now owns through a Crown corporation.

The Trans Mountain expansion is designed to dramatically increase the capacity for Alberta's vital oil resources to reach the West Coast, thereby accessing global markets and bolstering the Canadian economy.

The Premier’s demands highlight a critical clash over accountability and leadership.

For Smith, Ottawa’s current approach represents a dereliction of duty, threatening the timely completion of an infrastructure project deemed essential for national interest. Her call for the federal government to step up and ensure the pipeline's progress without further political or bureaucratic evasion underscores the growing tension between Alberta and Ottawa on crucial energy policy decisions.