Open this photo in gallery:
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith holds a news conference on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 7, 2025.Sean Kilpatrick/The Canadian Press
The war of words between Danielle Smith and David Eby over a proposed new oil pipeline to British Columbia’s north coast escalated sharply Tuesday as the Alberta and B.C. premiers dug in over whether the idea merits consideration as a new nation-building project.
The heated rhetoric began Monday when Mr. Eby released a video on social media in which he described the Alberta pitch for a new oil pipeline as “fictional” and “non-existent.” He said B.C. has better projects that should be prioritized as part of Ottawa’s plan to fast-track major new infrastructure.
Ms. Smith responded to the his remarks Tuesday during a news conference on Parliament Hill, which was part of her trip to Quebec and Ontario aimed at boosting interprovincial trade. She met with the Prime Minister on Monday.
“I think Premier Eby’s comments are un-Canadian and they’re unconstitutional,” she said, pointing to the Supreme Court‘s position that interprovincial pipelines fall under federal jurisdiction.
“I think the courts have been pretty clear on that. And I would hope that Prime Minister Mark Carney would realize it’s his obligation to make sure that these kinds of projects get built.”
ROB Magazine: How Ottawa can get the most infrastructure bang for its buck
She said a new oil pipeline would generate $20-billion a year for the Canadian economy.
Last month in Edmonton, Mr. Carney announced the first five projects that will be reviewed under Ottawa’s Building Canada Act and said he’s working with Alberta on a carbon-capture-and-storage project that could ultimately lead to a new oil pipeline.
The act allows Ottawa to fast-track approval of large infrastructure projects if they are deemed by the federal cabinet to be in the national interest.
Mr. Carney said at the time that a second wave of projects will be referred to the newly-created Major Projects Office before the Grey Cup in mid-November.
Earlier this month, Alberta announced it was taking the lead on an application for a major new oil pipeline that would be presented to the federal office by next May.
Ms. Smith said that while technical work will continue into the new year, she would like Ottawa to add the project – as well as a related carbon-capture-and-storage project – to the federal priority list as part of the second wave of announcements.
The pipeline project does not currently have a private-sector proponent.
Alberta has enlisted Enbridge Inc., South Bow Corp. and Trans Mountain Corp. to provide technical and regulatory expertise, but they are not financially backing the project.
The Premier also repeated her call for Ottawa to repeal several environmental policies, including an emission cap and Pacific north coast tanker ban, that the oil and gas industry says is preventing new investment.
She said she’s encouraged that Mr. Carney has already repealed the federal fuel charge, known by some as the carbon tax, and delayed the implementation of the zero-emission vehicle mandate.
Mr. Eby responded a few hours later during a news conference in Victoria.
He said Alberta does not deserve a second bitumen pipeline paid for by Canadian taxpayers, and suggested Alberta should work with his province to maximize the potential of the existing federally-owned Trans Mountain pipeline instead of riling up opposition to a new project.
“It’s not the Danielle Smith show. It’s the Canadian team, and we all deserve the same opportunity for the same federal funding for our projects as she does for hers. That’s not un-Canadian. That is fair, and there is nothing more Canadian than fairness,” Mr. Eby said.
Mr. Eby is calling on the federal government to uphold the existing ban on oil tanker traffic off B.C.’s north coast, which Ms. Smith wants lifted to allow access to the ports of Kitimat and Prince Rupert for Alberta oil.
“I don’t want this fight, we’ve got tons of work to do with Alberta,” Mr. Eby said.
The leader of B.C.’s official opposition, John Rustad, told reporters Tuesday that he has been in discussions with Ms. Smith about how she might be able to circumvent the oil tanker ban off B.C.’s north coast.
He echoed Ms. Smith’s statement that the B.C. Premier is being “un-Canadian” by opposing a new pipeline to the West Coast.
Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson, Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek and Indigenous leaders were also in Ottawa to advocate for federal support for major projects, including the Arctic Economic and Security Corridor, as well as other territorial priorities.
The corridor is a land and port infrastructure project.
When the Prime Minister named the initial five projects being referred to the Major Projects Office, he also listed six other projects that are at an earlier stage and need more development. The corridor was on that second list.
“We are here together in Ottawa to show the strength of our partnerships, to make clear that our priorities are shared, and to ask Canada to match that unity with firm, long-term commitments,” Mr. Simpson said.
With a report from Emily Haws
