SaskatchewanSask. Premier Scott Moe repeated his support for the proposed pipeline between Alberta and the northern B.C. coast earlier this week by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith.Alberta says it will submit application to federal Major Projects Office in the springChris Edwards · CBC News · Posted: Oct 03, 2025 8:16 PM EDT | Last Updated: October 4Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, left, and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe are shown in a file photo from June, when they called for federal action and support for energy. On Friday, Moe said he supports Alberta’s plan to apply to the federal Major Projects Office for a new pipeline to B.C.’s northern coast. (Jeremy Warren/CBC)Premier Scott Moe is voicing his support for Alberta’s latest pipeline proposal, emphasizing that no group outside of the federal government should have a veto over the decision.”There is no B.C. coast. It’s Canada’s coast. There are no B.C. ports. There are Canada’s ports,” he said in reference to comments by B.C. Premier David Eby and several B.C. Indigenous groups that raised concerns about the proposed project. “I feel an equal owner in those ports as a Canadian.”Moe said if the country is serious about diversifying its economy away from the U.S., “there’s no project that can do it like this.”Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced on Wednesday that her province plans to develop and submit an application to the federal Major Projects Office for a new pipeline that would transport bitumen from Alberta to the northwest coast of British Columbia.Under the plan, Alberta would commit $14 million toward the proposal and lead a “technical advisory group” that would include pipeline companies Enbridge, South Bow and Trans Mountain. Alberta says it plans to ultimately find a private company or a group of companies to construct the pipeline.A specific route for the pipeline has not yet been proposed. The province is expected to submit its application in the spring of 2026.WATCH | Alberta to kick-start proposal for a pipeline to northern B.C. coast: Alberta to kick-start proposal for a pipeline to northern B.C. coastAlberta Premier Danielle Smith tells Power & Politics her province will act as the proponent for an application to the Major Projects Office for a new pipeline from Alberta to the northern B.C. coast.B.C. oppositionAlberta’s initial announcement prompted a wave of positive and negative reactions from across the country. B.C. Premier David Eby blasted the idea as vague and too heavily reliant on government support. “Premier Smith continues to advance a project that is entirely taxpayer-funded, has no private sector proponent, is not a real project, and is incredibly alarming to British Columbians, including First Nations along the coast, whose support is required for the success of the billions of dollars in real projects that I’m talking about,” he said. Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said he supported the proposed pipeline, and that the federal government should “get out of the way.”The pipeline, he said, “should be built by private investors because they are wildly profitable.”Several Indigenous leaders in B.C. said they were opposed to the project. Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative and the elected chief of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, said her community is opposed to lifting its moratorium on oil tankers along the northern B.C. coast.”This is not something that we would ever support. There is no project [for which] … we would ever support the lifting of that moratorium,” she said.Radio West9:07Alberta premier Danielle Smith wants to build a pipeline to B.C.’s west coastAdrian Dix is B.C.’s Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions. He says the province does not support another pipeline through B.C.The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs issued a similar statement, with Grand Chief Stewart Phillip arguing the pipeline would constitute “a direct assault on the inherent and constitutionally protected title and rights of the First Nations who steward these lands and waters.”Moe rejected the implication that groups or political leaders from B.C. would have a veto over the project, but did reiterate his belief in the duty to consult Indigenous groups.”There will be a duty to consult process that is triggered, and certainly will be a robust process and we might find that there are opportunities for everyone to benefit from an investment just like this,” he said.More projects on the horizonLast month, Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the first wave of “nation-building” projects the federal government plans to fast-track. Among them was Saskatchewan’s McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project near Creighton, in the province’s northeast.That project is already near completion and is scheduled to begin operation in 2026. According to Foran Mining, the project has 800 employees currently working there and will provide 450 full-time jobs when it’s fully operational. Federal Minister for Energy and Resources Tim Hodgson has said more project announcements are on the horizon.When asked what projects he wanted to see fast-tracked, Moe mentioned several other mining projects in the province, including some uranium mines.But the biggest project he was interested in is a “port-to-port” pipeline corridor that would connect Prince Rupert on the coast of B.C. with Churchill, Man., on the coast of Hudson Bay. The idea was highlighted earlier this year at the western premiers’ meeting in May.ABOUT THE AUTHORChris Edwards is a reporter at CBC Saskatchewan. Before entering journalism, he worked in the tech industry.With files from Robson Fletcher
‘There is no B.C. coast. It’s Canada’s coast’: Sask. premier supports Alta. pipeline proposal
