Overview
- Premier Danielle Smith met Prime Minister Mark Carney and sent a letter seeking to file Alberta’s Major Projects Office application by June and secure federal approval by fall 2026.
- She urged Ottawa to compress regulatory reviews to six months, far shorter than the major projects office’s current two-year target.
- Alberta has launched a public information site and will act as the initial proponent, with the province saying private investors are expected to take over after approval.
- Former Alberta energy minister Sonya Savage said a privately built West Coast oil line is unlikely without government backstops for risks and overruns.
- Smith cited increased Venezuelan output supported by U.S. investment as direct competition for scarce U.S. refining capacity, with reports noting recent drops in Canadian crude prices and energy stocks; Ottawa has not committed to her requested timelines.