Danielle Smith calls on Mark Carney to speed up major project approvals

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to shorten federal review timelines for major projects to six months, arguing two years is too long amid recent developments in Venezuela; the federal major projects office currently targets two-year regulatory reviews.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has asked Prime Minister Mark Carney to shorten federal approval timelines for major projects to six months. Carney's major projects office, established last year, currently aims to complete regulatory reviews within two years. Smith cited recent U.S. actions in Venezuela and reported plans by U.S. interests to expand Venezuelan oil production as reasons the process should be faster. She said she had a "positive" meeting with Carney and shared a letter on social media calling for greater urgency. Key points: - Smith asked that new project applications be green-lit within six months rather than the current two-year target. - Her letter says an application for a West Coast pipeline will be submitted by June and requested approval no later than fall. - A route for the pipeline and a private-sector proponent have not been determined. - Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre called for an even quicker approval, saying Ottawa should sign off within 60 days of receiving an application. - Carney said he and Smith talked about getting "big things built," but did not directly address the six-month request; federal officials said timelines are still at early stages. - A spokesperson for Energy Minister Tim Hodgson said the government is working with Alberta to make the approval process clear and efficient and plans to engage with Alberta, B.C. and Indigenous communities. Summary: Smith warned that delays in project approvals could risk ceding market share and investment as other countries expand oil production, and she framed faster approvals as important to Alberta's economic plans. The provincial government expects to submit a pipeline application by June, federal officials say engagement with provinces and Indigenous communities is planned, and next procedural steps are undetermined at this time.