Canada has launched a new pipeline project to transport oil from Alberta to the country’s west coast. The proposal has now been officially submitted to federal authorities, Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Thursday during a joint press conference in Calgary with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith. The western province of British Columbia had long opposed the project but has now agreed to it.
The new pipeline is intended to transport around one million barrels of oil daily from Alberta to the West Coast, from where it can be shipped to Asia. Opening up to other markets is part of Canada’s strategy to reduce its dependence on the US. The trade war led by US President Donald Trump is causing the country enormous damage.
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British Columbia Premier David Eby noted that the multi-billion-dollar investment agreement includes environmental protection measures and enables the construction of new LNG facilities and port infrastructure in the province. “We will not go to court,” he stated. Local residents would be “fairly compensated” for any potential environmental damage.
Until recently, the province had opposed the project due to concerns regarding environmental impacts and risks to Indigenous communities. Premier Eby announced that a consultation process with the affected Indigenous communities would now begin “without delay.”
Carney had previously stated that the pipeline would help Canada become an “energy superpower.” However, the climate targets set under his predecessor, Justin Trudeau, are likely no longer achievable. “The changes we have made will result in our emissions being higher over the coming years than was envisaged in the previous government’s plan,” Carney said. “In my assessment, however, that plan was not sustainable in the long term.”
Author: AFP – pe/mhe
Sources: AFP Press Portal