EXCLUSIVE: Nenshi calls West Coast pipeline “a pipe dream”

Nenshi has slammed Smith’s proposed West Coast pipeline, dismissing it as a “pipe dream” and accusing the government of squandering taxpayer dollars on a project he claims doesn’t exist.

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Author: Isaac Lamoureux

Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi has slammed Premier Danielle Smith’s proposed West Coast pipeline, dismissing it as a “pipe dream” and accusing the government of squandering taxpayer dollars on a project he claims doesn’t exist.

Nenshi told True North that his party has a proven record on pipeline construction, while the UCP does not.

“There’s precisely one government that has actually gotten a pipeline to Tidewater built. It was not a Conservative government. It was, in fact, Rachel Notley and the New Democrats who got it built with, if I may say, an able assist from the then mayor of Calgary,” said Nenshi.

Smith recently pressed for new pipelines to reach global markets at a committee meeting, pledging to double her province’s oil production if Ottawa clears regulatory barriers. She cited regulatory burden and uncertainty resulting in the cancellation or delay of the Northern Gateway, Keystone XL and Energy East pipelines.

“If all of those had been constructed, we would be generating 2.5 million barrels a day of additional production,” she said. “At today’s prices, that would be $55 billion worth of GDP. Governments take about 40 per cent of that. And the provincial levels of government, the federal government, they split about equally. So anywhere from 10 to $15 billion a year of additional tax revenue for the federal government, and about the same for Alberta.”

Smith’s government outlined its plan to partner with First Nations and industry to build new pipelines to Canada’s West Coast and southeastern Ontario in last week’s Throne Speech.

The Alberta premier has been at odds with B.C. Premier David Eby on the possibility of a West Coast pipeline. Smith called Eby “un-Canadian and unconstitutional” for his stance. Eby repeatedly attacked Smith in response, criticizing the pipeline while simultaneously arguing that it does not exist.

Nenshi echoed similar talking points.

“What the premier is doing is not a pipeline. It’s a pipe dream,” said Nenshi.

“How can it be on the major projects list when there’s no projects; there’s no investor; there’s no proponent; there’s no consultation; there’s no consent; there’s not even a route,” said Nenshi. “This is not how you get a pipeline built. There is a much better way for us to be able to move forward, to ensure that we have the energy exports that we need to supply the world with safe, clean, reliable energy.”

The Alberta government announced in early October that it would lead a new West Coast oil pipeline proposal. This initiative will begin with a technical advisory group including Indigenous partners and three pipeline companies. The province will act as the proponent until a formal application is approved, after which private investors are expected to take over.

Alberta has pledged $14 million for early planning, which includes route assessment, engineering, cost estimates and Indigenous engagement. The province hopes the Federal Major Projects Office will approve the pipeline and that it will be part of the second wave of major projects announced by the Grey Cup in November.

“There is no universe where Alberta will tolerate being landlocked in our own country by our neighbouring province, especially when the same industry he continues to demonize has generated so much wealth for his province and the country,” said Smith previously.

Smith has warned the federal government that if it does not approve a West Coast pipeline, she will turn south, arguing that the United States has shown interest in pipelines.

“If we can’t build cross-border infrastructure and we can’t get our products to market, then we’re violating what it is that the founders came together to build Canada in the first place,” said Smith. “Let’s go back to the idea of what Canada is supposed to be. Let’s get these kinds of projects built. Let’s find new markets. Let’s work together on that.”

Smith said she was travelling the country to figure out how to get Alberta’s energy products to market.

“We have to have hard conversations about the things we need to build, and if that doesn’t work, then I guess I’ll have to work with the United States,” she said. “But that then is a failure in my opinion… The whole reason why we’ve had this recalibration in Canada in the last eight months is because people are nervous that we are too reliant on the United States. So, changing that so that we become even more reliant on the United States seems to be a failure.”