Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew addresses reporters on Wednesday in Charlottetown, where premiers are gathering for their annual meeting.Darren Calabrese/The Canadian Press
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he’s open to the idea of a new pipeline from Alberta to Ontario, making his first public comments that would help clear the way for provincial co-operation on a proposal to carry crude oil across the country.
Mr. Kinew’s openness to such a project helps address a major hurdle for the proposed pipeline, which is still in early stages of discussion. But there is also the question of whether the federal government will support it, and a lack of details about the costs and timeline.
The proposed 3,300-kilometre pipeline would travel across four provinces from Hardisty, Alta., to Sarnia, Ont., and would be able to move roughly 500,000 barrels of oil a day. It was announced in Calgary earlier this month by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
So far, there is no private backing for the proposal, but Mr. Ford has said he’s open to government financing.
Mr. Kinew’s voice was notably absent from the announcement, while Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe was on record supporting it. Mr. Ford said the proposed route would provide Manitoba and the Manitoba-Crown Indigenous Corporation with the opportunity to explore a pipeline extension to the Port of Churchill. Mr. Kinew has championed the port as a major expansion project for his province.
Port of Churchill to ship Prairie grain for first time in years as it pushes for expansion
Speaking at the premiers’ meeting on Wednesday in Charlottetown, Mr. Kinew said Manitobans still have questions about a pipeline, but he’s willing to consider it.
“I’m open to it. I love Alberta, I love Albertans. So, willing to entertain the idea,” he said.
Mr. Kinew said he’s been talking to Ms. Smith, Mr. Ford and Mr. Moe about the idea over the past few months, as well as Indigenous leaders and residents. He said there are likely many people in his province who would want to work on such a project.
“I’m open to it, and if it’s going to make Canada stronger – great.”
He added that if such a project was taken on, Indigenous governments need to be involved, workers need to be treated properly and environmental concerns need to be addressed.
Ms. Smith said on Wednesday she was excited that Mr. Ford initiated the pipeline proposal and “delighted” that Mr. Kinew has expressed some support for it. But she said the first step is to look at its feasibility.
“There’s a little bit more work that needs to be done on it,” she said at a press conference alongside her fellow premiers in Charlottetown.
“In the meantime, we’ll be working on our West Coast pipeline as the priority.”
The Alberta-Ontario proposal was revealed days after Ms. Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney announced a deal and new southern route for a separate proposed pipeline that would run to British Columbia’s West Coast.
Editorial: The ends of the Pacific pipeline justify the path
Both pipeline proposals are being positioned as projects that could be fast-tracked as part of the federal government’s push to boost national infrastructure and increase global exports in response to the trade war with the United States.
But unlike the West Coast pipeline, the Alberta-Ontario proposal has no formal federal backing.
It was also unclear who would build the new pipeline – potentially a major financial undertaking for a private backer at a time when domestic energy companies have shown little appetite for such risk.
Mr. Ford has said Ontario is examining potential costs and planning to complete a feasibility study for the new proposal, called the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, by the end of the year.
The premiers are meeting in Prince Edward Island this week for their annual summer gathering. It is taking on new urgency this year as U.S. President Donald Trump threatens to impose 50-per-cent tariffs on a host of Canadian products next month. Mr. Carney is meeting with the premiers on Thursday, where he is expected to update them on trade talks.
Andrew Coyne: There is no appeasing Trump, or deterring him
Mr. Kinew said he expects to hear more details about negotiations on the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, also known as CUSMA. That includes potential next steps if a deal with the U.S. cannot be reached by Aug. 19, when the new tariffs are set to kick in.
Mr. Kinew, whose province is among those that have banned U.S. liquor from store shelves, said Mr. Trump is struggling domestically.
“I think the American President is very vulnerable right now. The cost of living is a political disaster for Donald Trump, and a lot of people in Canada are saying in order for us to get a CUSMA deal, we should give him a win,” he said.
“But I’m wondering whether we should.”