Alberta government pipeline priorities unchanged under federal Liberal majority, cabinet says

Alberta says it will continue to push for a pipeline after the federal Liberals swept to a majority government on Monday night.

The Alberta government says it will continue its push to establish details of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the federal government, which include a pipeline project, amid a newly established Liberal majority in the House of Commons.

“We’ll continue to work with them regardless of the composition or structure of their government. It doesn’t change our job,” Alberta finance minister Nate Horner told reporters Tuesday.

A federal Liberal majority was clinched Monday night after byelection wins in two Toronto-area ridings and one Quebec riding.

Mount Royal University political scientist Lori Williams said even a slim majority means more stability in Prime Minister Mark Carney’s cabinet as he works with provincial premiers to accomplish economy-stimulating projects.

“It will mean the possibility of planning and working on something over a three-year period. That’s enough time to move things significantly forward,” she told CTV News Edmonton on Tuesday.

The Alberta government tabled legislation Tuesday that would speedrun the approval of certain projects in the energy sector, saying bureaucratic delays have cost both Alberta and Canada millions in missed capital investment opportunities.

Municipal affairs minister Dan Williams says Alberta is still working to impart the importance of hammering out the details of the Alberta-Ottawa energy memorandum of understanding.

“We want to make sure that they understand that the crisis that has been created by past Liberal governments and the dismissing of Albertans has been a real crisis … but there is a path forward,” he told reporters Tuesday.

The Canadian Association of Petroleum Producers says it’s hopeful a Liberal majority means Canada will become the world’s next energy superpower.

“We need to act urgently to attract the investment required to build new export infrastructure so Canada can meet this moment and meaningfully support global energy security,” CEO and President Lisa Baiton said in a statement.

But Alberta Premier Danielle Smith may be put in a tight spot politically, especially when it comes to further negotiation of the energy MOU that has already passed its April 1 deadline, Williams added.

“They’ve gone through one deadline where they didn’t make quite as much progress as they had hoped, but they are making progress. And Danielle Smith is very glowing about the progress being made,” she said.

“I don’t know that artificial deadlines are necessarily to be taken as sort of rigid, drop dead dates … as far as having a private sector partner involved in this, that part of the equation is a bit more difficult right now with the possibility of this referendum scaring away investors.”

Williams is referring to a potential referendum on separating from Canada, a question which could be posed to Albertans in October should the group Stay Free Alberta gather and verify enough signatures on a citizen-led petition.

She also noted recent floor crossings and now a federal Liberal majority government stoking discontent among separatists out west who may feel as though their vote doesn’t count.

The spotlight may now be on how Carney continues to involve himself with the priorities of western Canada.

“That dominance of central Canada and the tendency of prime ministers and governing parties to focus more on central Canada at the expense of the west or the Maritimes, that doesn’t seem to be the pattern under Mark Carney,” Williams reflected, noting the MOU as well as Carney bringing Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe for trade talks in China.

Smith’s press secretary Sam Blackett said Alberta’s approach to federal talks will remain unchanged.

“Negotiations are ongoing and we remain committed to getting a good deal for Albertans,” his statement to CTV News Edmonton read.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg