B.C., Alberta and Ottawa hold borderline-friendly meeting on pipelines

Premiers David Eby and Danielle Smith met Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa to discuss a proposed pipeline from Alberta’s oilsands to a west-coast export terminal; Eby called the meeting 'borderline friendly' and reiterated concerns about spills and First Nations opposition.

British Columbia Premier David Eby, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney met in Ottawa as a side meeting during the Council of the Federation to discuss a proposed pipeline from Alberta’s oilsands to a west-coast export terminal. Eby said the tone was very civil and 'borderline friendly.' He repeated B.C.'s environmental and coastal First Nations concerns and said the province had been cut out of earlier memorandum of understanding negotiations. Smith and Carney have previously signed an MOU declaring the project in the national interest. Key points: - The meeting took place in Ottawa as part of the broader Council of the Federation event. - Eby described the meeting as very civil and 'borderline friendly' and restated opposition based on spill risks and First Nations concerns. - Smith and Prime Minister Carney signed a memorandum of understanding in November saying a pipeline to a west-coast export terminal is in the national interest to reach markets outside the United States. - Eby said B.C. was excluded from MOU negotiations and noted the provincial limits affirmed during the Trans‑Mountain (TMX) process. - Eby raised other federal issues including softwood lumber tariffs, federal security contributions for the Vancouver FIFA World Cup events, and extortion cases in Surrey needing national coordination. - Smith said the leaders also discussed electrical interties, nuclear energy and a possible expansion to an existing bitumen pipeline; she said her government will consult First Nations and pledged to keep B.C. informed, citing a June timeline before any submission to Ottawa’s major projects office. Summary: The meeting maintained a civil tone but did not resolve core disagreements over the pipeline proposal. Eby reiterated environmental and Indigenous concerns while acknowledging limits to provincial authority. Smith signalled further work and First Nations consultation with a June timeline before potential submission to the federal major projects office. Carney said the conversations were positive and framed them around building a stronger Canadian economy.