Calgary (Rajeev Sharma): Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has welcomed Ontario’s proposal for a new cross-country oil pipeline, describing it as a significant step towards strengthening Canada’s energy network and improving access to domestic and international markets.
The proposed Northern Shield Energy Corridor would connect Hardisty, Alberta, to Sarnia, Ontario, creating a route of approximately 3,300 kilometres. The project is intended to transport Alberta crude directly to refineries in eastern Canada while also improving export opportunities through ports connected to international shipping routes.
In a statement issued on Monday, Smith said the initiative would support Alberta’s long-term objective of increasing oil production and reducing barriers to moving Canadian energy across the country.
According to the Alberta government, the proposed pipeline could initially carry an additional 500,000 barrels of oil per day, with infrastructure designed to allow future expansion to nearly 800,000 barrels daily.
Smith said the project would not only strengthen the country’s energy supply but also generate employment, encourage investment and improve the value derived from Canada’s natural resources.
She noted that the proposal builds upon an agreement signed last year between Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario to explore new pipeline infrastructure through an economic corridor linking western and central Canada.
Ontario has now begun preliminary work on evaluating the project’s feasibility, including cost estimates, commercial models and broader economic opportunities associated with the proposed corridor.
The Alberta premier also linked the initiative to the province’s broader strategy of expanding energy exports. Alongside efforts to improve eastward transportation, Alberta continues to work with the federal government on plans for a new west coast pipeline that would provide increased access to Asian energy markets.
Supporters of the project argue that improved domestic pipeline infrastructure would reduce dependence on foreign oil imports for eastern Canadian refineries while creating a more integrated national energy system. Further technical studies and commercial assessments are expected before the proposal moves to the next stage of development.
