SASKATOON – It should come as little surprise that Premier Scott Moe was among the first to voice support for Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's proposed pipeline project to the West Coast.
Smith announced last week that the Alberta government would develop and submit a formal application for a project of national significance to the Federal Major Projects Office.
Alberta would be the proponent, but also lead a technical advisory group in making that application for a pipeline to British Columbia’s coast. There would be significant Indigenous participation as well.
Soon after, Premier Moe took to the X platform to say that “Saskatchewan stands with Alberta as they take steps to build a new West Coast oil pipeline.”
It is just the latest in a series of statements by Moe voicing support not only for a national pipeline project, but also for a national port to port corridor. In Saskatoon this past week, Moe was asked to explain why he made the statement in support of Alberta’s proposal.
“I think it's the most significant generationally important infrastructure project that we could consider as Canadians,” Moe told reporters.
“It would have an impact, positively for us from an economic perspective, across this nation. The steel would come from across this nation. Many of the workers would come from across this nation. And certainly, not just in the construction, but in the operation and sale of likely $30 billion of some of the cleanest oil that you can access on earth to other nations.”
Moe’s remarks came while attending the grand opening of a new bilingual-Cree language school on the east side of Saskatoon. He noted the potential positive impact a pipeline project might have on students attending that school that day.
“You know, a very positive impact in the way of jobs, in the way of opportunity for maybe kids that would even attend this school here today, because it wouldn't be completed for a number of years,” Moe said.
Premier Moe also had thoughts about British Columbia Premier David Eby’s negative reaction to Smith’s announcement. Eby seemed to pour cold water over the proposal by dismissing the pipeline as “not a real project.”
Premier Moe did not seem too concerned by Eby’s response, as he noted a decision on the pipeline’s approval “lies solely with the federal government.”
“There is no B.C. coast. It's Canada's coast. There are no B.C. ports. They are Canada's ports. And I feel an equal owner in those ports as a Canadian,” said Moe.
Moe added that if they are serious about “diversifying and expanding our economy away from the United States of America in any way, there's no project that can do it like this.”
“…But at the end of the day, constitutionally speaking, the decision is going to land with the federal government, not with the government of British Columbia. They have no standing.”
Premier Moe was also asked about the potential for opposition of First Nations through the duty to consult process. Moe’s message to those First Nations was to “participate in the duty to consult process” now that there was a pipeline proponent.
“Because up until now, there has been none. Outside of on TMX (Trans Mountain pipeline expansion), there was a duty to consult process and a successful project that was constructed. So now that there is a proponent, there will be a duty to consult process that is triggered, and certainly will be a robust process. And we might find that there are opportunities for everyone to benefit from an investment just like this. I think that will be the case, but that happens through the conversations that now can occur with the proponent.”
Addresses uranium mining
With respect to his own province, Moe was asked if there were other nation-building projects he would like to see that would directly benefit Saskatchewan. Moe said he wanted to see the province’s numerous uranium mines projects move forward.
“So there's the mining industry projects that we have in play, and we're currently waiting on two or three with the federal government for them to find their way through the process. Two uranium mining projects have full provincial approvals and are waiting for their federal approvals.”
The other item Moe wanted to see move ahead is the port-to-port corridor, something he has been a particular proponent of. Moe pointed to the discussion that came out of the Western Premiers Conference and then the First Minister's meeting in Saskatoon on that topic.
“That will open up Asian and European markets. The natural gas opportunities that might come into Churchill, accessing the European markets, but also the oil line that would go to the northwest coast — from Fort McMurray down through Hardisty and to the northwest coast, which would allow us to expand the production of some of the more sustainable oil that is produced on Earth and to provide it to other markets outside of the U.S.”
The pipeline project being spearheaded by Alberta is being backed with a $14 million commitment from the Alberta government to the early planning work. Moe reiterated that Saskatchewan’s support was only verbal at this stage, with no financial commitment attached.
“I guess my participation at this point is about the same as the Premier of British Columbia. We've both expressed our opinion,” said Moe.
“And really, and realistically… until we participate financially or become our own proponent, that's the level of participation that the Constitution affords us.”
When asked what the chances are that this project does get done, Moe voiced optimism.
“Highly likely,” he said. “And I would hope we live in a nation where we can look at selling a product like oil, you know, five or six million barrels of oil, to someone outside of the United States of America. And this is what it takes. If we truly believe that we want to diversify our export value away from the U.S. or additional production away from the U.S., this is the conversation we need to have. We need to have it in a responsible manner, and I think we can. But it's entirely necessary that we have it, and we have it in a responsible way.”
