AlbertaInstitute
- Construction is set to begin on a new $2.9-billion natural gas pipeline in central Alberta after the provincial power regulator approved the Yellowhead project proposed by Canadian Utilities Ltd. The 235-kilometer transmission line would run from the Peers area in west-central Alberta to the Fort Saskatchewan region northeast of Edmonton, and is expected to carry more than 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas, which the company says is equivalent to what Alberta's entire electricity system delivers on a peak day. Jason Sharpe, Chief Operating Officer at ATCO Ltd., the parent company of Canadian Utilities, said the project will help meet Alberta's growing energy needs while supporting economic growth across the province. All major pipeline and compressor contracts have been awarded, and the company expects the work to create about 2,000 direct construction jobs. ATCO has billed the Yellowhead pipeline as its largest-ever energy infrastructure project.
- Alberta's budget picture has improved sharply since the government tabled Budget 2026 in February, with higher oil prices putting the province on track to erase a projected $9.4-billion deficit and possibly finish the year with a surplus. The budget assumed West Texas Intermediate crude would average $60.50 US a barrel, but prices have spent much of the spring and summer above $70 US and at times topped $100 US amid tensions between the United States and Iran. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe estimates the province is now on track for a modest surplus of about $5 billion if a $70 price holds, a swing of roughly $14 billion in just a few months. Provincial revenues move by about $680 million for every $1 change in the price of oil. Finance Minister Jason Nixon's office said the Government anticipates improvement on the deficit but cautioned that a full-year projection cannot rest on recently elevated prices, with an update due in the next quarterly report at the end of August. Tombe warned that if oil averages below about $68 US for the rest of the year, Alberta would end back in deficit.
- The provincial government has given Alberta's public libraries until January 1st to adopt policies restricting young people's access to materials containing sexually explicit images. Under changes to the Libraries Act passed in May, libraries must ensure that anyone 15 years old or younger cannot use or borrow materials showing a visual depiction of a sexual act without a parent or guardian's authorization, a restriction that covers books, periodicals, comics and graphic novels, films, television programs and video games. Library boards face the same deadline to decide which materials to restrict, how to verify a patron's age, how to handle library cards and computer access for younger users, and how to apply the rules to e-books. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs said that no content will be removed and the aim is to keep libraries family-friendly without affecting adults' access, adding that the changes also expand the power of provincially appointed inspectors to examine any aspect of a library's operations. Rob Miyashiro, the NDP's Shadow Minister for Municipal Affairs, claimed the rules were unnecessary because most libraries already had similar policies, and warned they will raise costs and strain staff, especially at small libraries. Miyashiro said local decision-making would be minimized in favour of a centralized approach.
- Premier Danielle Smith says she trusts Prime Minister Mark Carney to reach a deal with the US that avoids President Donald Trump's threatened new tariffs on Canada, calling the Prime Minister "wise" to hold off on retaliation for now. Smith made the comments in an interview with Global News after meeting Carney and the other premiers in Charlottetown, following the US administration's announcement that some Canadian products will face 50% tariffs, set to take effect on August 19th. Carney says he spoke with Trump and the two agreed to intensify trade negotiations, and while everything remains on the table for potential retaliation, he argues it would be counterproductive to respond in advance. Smith believes pressure from Americans themselves could also play a role, saying the tariffs are raising the cost of homes, food, and everyday products for US consumers. She also welcomed other premiers' support for energy projects Alberta has been championing, including oil pipelines to British Columbia and Ontario, along with new agreements to lift interprovincial barriers on alcohol sales. Smith suggested those deals, and the premiers' vocal support for Alberta remaining in Canada, could influence the upcoming referendum on whether the province should pursue a path to separation.
- Speaking of trade, Premiers from nine provinces have signed an agreement to allow direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, letting Canadians order alcohol for personal consumption directly from producers in participating provinces. The agreement, signed last Tuesday, applies only to sales from producers, not retailers or resale, and follows a July 2025 memorandum of understanding that committed provinces to opening cross-border shipping by May 2026. Until now, interprovincial alcohol sales have largely been funnelled through provincial liquor boards, with listing processes that many small producers have struggled to navigate. David Farran, President and founder of Eau Claire Distillery, said accessing other provinces has been very difficult because government liquor stores decide which products to carry, describing the red tape involved in securing listings as "almost impossible to overcome". The Alberta Chambers of Commerce called the deal a step in the right direction but argued governments should keep the rules simple and minimize compliance costs, while the Alberta Small Brewers Association cautioned that higher shipping costs and beer's shorter shelf life mean the change may not immediately transform business for small breweries. Alberta remains one of only two provinces, alongside Saskatchewan, that allow the sale and import of American liquor.
- The provincial government, Ottawa and five oilsands producers have reached an agreement to advance the Pathways Project, a carbon capture and storage network that would move carbon dioxide from oilsands sites in northern Alberta to an underground storage hub near Cold Lake. Announced last Monday but signed on July 2nd, the deal ties the project to a proposed new West Coast oil pipeline, with both governments committing to fiscal and regulatory policies meant to spur oilsands production growth. Ottawa will extend investment tax credits of 50% on eligible carbon capture equipment and 37.5% on related transport and storage, now valid until 2035, and introduce new credits for enhanced oil recovery. Premier Danielle Smith called it a nation-building partnership, while federal Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson said the producers would ultimately pay for Pathways through taxation incentives and carbon pricing. The project, initially estimated at $16.5 billion, could now cost between $20 billion and $30 billion, with infrastructure targeted to be in service by January 1st, 2032.
- The provincial government has opened a new online form for Albertans to submit concerns about bike lanes in their communities, such as whether a lane is underused or has taken away parking spaces. The Province says the feedback it gathers will inform future policy decisions. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen says he wants to hear from residents if bike lanes are creating traffic congestion, hurting businesses or prolonging emergency response times. Dreeshen has said legislation is coming in the fall but has provided few details on what it may include. He has argued that transportation networks need to put people first.
- Premier Danielle Smith says close to 800,000 people have applied for the provincial government's new $100 energy rebate, with the first payments expected to reach bank accounts within days. Applications opened on July 2nd for Albertans in households earning under $225,000, and the government estimates 3.4 million people are eligible before the portal closes at the end of September. Smith said the Province is looking at ways to streamline the process after residents reported trouble with an identity-verification requirement that, for some without online banking, meant submitting a photo of their driver's licence and of themselves. She said the validation steps were added as fraud protection, and that about 35,000 applications were flagged in the first week as potentially fraudulent. Smith suggested a simpler fix could involve cross-referencing a line from an applicant's income tax return with Canada Revenue Agency data, with any changes rolled out in the coming weeks. She also said it is too soon to say whether the affordability payments will continue or whether the government will revert to cutting gas taxes at the pump.
- The provincial government is creating seven regional primary care corporations as part of its continuing health-care restructuring, saying the new bodies will cut administrative work for front-line providers and improve access to family doctors, particularly in rural areas. Justin Wright, the Minister of Primary and Preventative Health Services, announced last Thursday that the new corporations will operate under Primary Care Alberta and handle regional planning, funding coordination, reporting and oversight. The government says the model responds to recommendations from its earlier review of primary care, during which providers called for a stronger regional approach. Each corporation will align with one of Alberta's seven existing health corridors, covering Calgary, Edmonton, and the central, northeast, northwest, southeast and southwest regions. The regulation creating the corporations takes effect on September 1st, with the organizations expected to begin operating in the spring of 2027.
- Alberta's regulated online gambling market went live last Monday, opening the province to private sports betting companies and online casinos and making Alberta the second province after Ontario to license private operators. Nearly 50 companies paid $200,000 in registration and permit fees ahead of the launch, though Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said he expects closer to 20 to be ready for customers. The system stems from legislation passed last year, and the Province will collect 20% of each operator's revenue, which the government forecasts will add $76 million to provincial coffers in the first year. Nally says the aim is to protect bettors who previously used the government-owned platform or unregulated offshore sites, with 1% of gross revenue set aside for problem gambling programs and 2% earmarked for First Nations. Critics note the risks, pointing to a University of Toronto study that found calls to Ontario's gambling helpline from men under 24 rose more than 300% since that province opened its market in 2022.
- Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled a proposed 3,300-kilometer pipeline on Monday that would carry western Canadian oil from Hardisty, Alberta, past Regina and Winnipeg to refineries in Sarnia, Ontario. The line, part of what the Premiers call the Northern Shield Energy Corridor, would move an estimated 500,000 barrels a day with possible expansion to 800,000, and would let Ontario stop routing its western oil through pipelines that cross the United States. The project is still in its early stages with no price tag or timeline, and it builds on an earlier energy-corridor agreement among Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan, with an Ontario feasibility study that has cost $11 million so far and is expected to finish by the end of the year. Ford said the Ontario government could own the pipeline and cover construction costs if needed, and Smith said the line could eventually open Alberta oil to European markets. Manitoba has declined to join, with Premier Wab Kinew saying nation-building projects must begin with Indigenous partnership rather than after-the-fact consultation. The proposal comes days after Alberta formally advanced a separate oil pipeline to the British Columbia coast in partnership with Trans Mountain Corp. and Pembina Pipeline Corp.
- Meta announced that the company will spend $13 billion to build a data centre in Sturgeon County, just north of Edmonton, in what the Premier called one of the largest private-sector investments in Canadian history. Meta claims the project will employ 3,000 people at the peak of construction and about 300 full-time staff once operational, and the provincial government says it will generate roughly $250 million a year in royalties, taxes, levies and fees. Meta is also putting about $60 million into local roads and water infrastructure, and the Government says the electricity to power the site will come from a separate $4.6-billion natural gas generation facility that it says will cut the transmission portion of Alberta ratepayers' bills by about 6%. Meta also confirmed that the facility will use a closed-loop water cooling system that draws no water from the surrounding area. Critics remain wary, with environmental activists calling for a moratorium on large data centres until there are legislated environmental protections. Smith said the site was chosen because Alberta's Industrial Heartland has been zoned for heavy industry for four decades.
- The provincial government announced that it is accelerating 41 school projects through its Schools Now program, which it says will deliver more than 39,000 new and upgraded student spaces across the province. Of the 41 projects, 19 are approved for construction funding, and 22 are moving from planning into design, with the Government saying the accelerations cut more than nine months off project timelines. Calgary accounts for 16 of the projects and Edmonton for 11, with the rest spread across communities including Airdrie, Brooks, Chestermere, Red Deer, Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Fort McMurray and Grande Prairie County. Education and Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said a school in the community lets students learn and grow close to home, while Infrastructure Minister Martin Long said getting schools built faster matters to Alberta families. The $8.6-billion Schools Now program launched in September 2024, and the Government says it will deliver roughly 200,000 new or modernized student spaces by the 2031-32 school year.
- Alberta's new Auditor General, Phil Peters, says he expects his investigation into a health-care contracting scandal to be complete by the end of the year, calling it a top priority for his office. Peters took over in late April after Premier Danielle Smith's government opted not to extend the contract of the previous auditor general, Doug Wylie, who had offered to stay two more years to finish the probe he had worked on for more than a year. The review, announced in February 2025, focuses on deals for private surgical facilities, pain medication from Turkey, and COVID-19 personal protective equipment, and is one of several investigations, including by the RCMP, that followed corruption allegations from the former head of Alberta Health Services. Those allegations have not been proven in court, and a government-commissioned report by retired judge Raymond Wyant found no evidence of wrongful interference by Smith, her ministers or staff. Peters said his mandate lets him dig deeper than that review, with the authority to compel records and subpoena witnesses under oath. The former health executive, Athana Mentzelopoulos, alleges she was fired for investigating questionable contracts, while the Government says she was dismissed for incompetence, and the Opposition NDP has called the matter the biggest government scandal in the province's history.
- The provincial government announced Wednesday that it is committing $50 million over 5 years to the Alberta Machine Intelligence Institute to expand the use of artificial intelligence across public services and the wider economy. Premier Danielle Smith said Alberta has spent two decades building a world-class AI sector and is now putting that advantage to work, with Technology and Innovation Minister Nate Glubish saying the Province's early bet on AI research had paid off. The funding is drawn from five ministries, with Technology and Innovation and Advanced Education each contributing $15 million, Assisted Living and Social Services $10 million, and Primary and Preventative Health Services and Education and Childcare $5 million each. The Government says it has invested roughly $100 million in the institute since 2002, and notes it is one of three national AI institutes in Canada alongside Mila and the Vector Institute. Institute CEO Cam Linke described artificial intelligence as one of the defining technologies of our time. The Government says the money will fund AI applications in areas including health care and worker training.
- The provincial government submitted its application for the West Coast Oil Pipeline to the federal Major Projects Office last Thursday, seeking to have the project listed as being in the national interest. The proposed pipeline would carry more than one million barrels of oil per day from Bruderheim to a deep-water port on BC's southwest coast, largely following the existing Trans Mountain corridor, a southern route the government says is the fastest and most cost-effective option and one that avoids the federal oil tanker ban on BC's north coast. The government says the project would help meet its goal of doubling Alberta's oil production to eight million barrels per day over the next 10 years, and the province will partner with Trans Mountain Corporation and Pembina Pipeline to build it, answering questions about who would construct the project after months with no private proponent identified. Indigenous communities wishing to partner in the project will be offered equity opportunities through the Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation and the federal Canadian Indigenous Loan Guarantee Program. Under the memorandum of understanding signed with Ottawa in the fall, the federal government has committed to a timely review, with the goal of a national-interest listing by October 1st and construction receiving permission (though not actually starting) as early as September 1st, 2027. Prime Minister Mark Carney has said Ottawa's support for the pipeline is linked to building the Pathways carbon capture and storage project, and the province says it is finalizing a tripartite agreement with the federal government and the Oil Sands Alliance on regulatory reforms and growth incentives to expand oilsands production, with details expected in the coming days. British Columbia Premier David Eby said the deal does not require BC to support any pipeline proposal from Alberta, but he acknowledged that pipelines are federal jurisdiction and that the province will not go to court to fight a pipeline project.
- Meanwhile, separatist group Stay Free Alberta has secured a partial win at Alberta's top court in its fight to put its own independence question to voters. Last Monday, Court of Appeal Justice Alice Woolley ruled that the chief electoral officer can resume verifying signatures on the group's referendum petition, which the group says gathered more than 300,000 signatures, and can report the results to the public. However, the judge stopped short of allowing the results to be reported to the justice minister and referred to the lieutenant governor, a step that could trigger a constitutional referendum, saying a full stay risked the petition proceeding to a referendum before the appeal is decided. In May, Court of King's Bench Justice Shaina Leonard quashed the petition, finding the provincial government neglected its duty to consult First Nations and the chief electoral officer made an error in law in approving it. Both Stay Free Alberta and the provincial government have appealed that ruling, and Premier Danielle Smith has since announced a different question for the October 19th referendum, asking Albertans whether they want to remain in Canada or hold a second, binding vote on separation in the future. A date for the appeal has not been set, and Woolley declined to order an expedited hearing.
- The provincial government is directing $100 million toward supporting complex classrooms across Alberta by hiring more teachers, educational assistants, and support staff. Much of the funding will go toward creating 221 new classroom complexity teams, including 158 for grades 7-12 and 63 for kindergarten to Grade 6, with every school district in the province receiving at least one new team. Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said $75 million will go toward hiring the complexity teams, with the remaining $25 million directed to staff support, including a portion set aside to help rural and remote school divisions bring specialized staff to their communities. The teams for grades 7-12 will include one teacher and one educational assistant, with school boards able to hire two additional specialized staff as needed. The money was earmarked for classroom complexity in Budget 2026 and builds on the Province's commitment to hire more than 1,400 teachers, along with the 476 complexity teams for the younger grades announced in February. Alberta Teachers' Association president Jason Schilling called the funding welcome but long overdue, saying classroom complexity was one of the key issues behind the teachers' strike last October.
- The Legislature committee overseeing the panel redrawing Alberta's electoral boundaries voted last Tuesday to let the panel bring on a political scientist and a pollster to offer expertise on voting behaviour. UCP committee members also approved allowing panel chair Brian O'Ferrall, a retired judge, to enlist a lawyer for legal advice. Opposition NDP committee member Kathleen Ganley argued that drawing the map based on how residents might vote would harm Albertans' right to vote, and said the advice will be kept under "the dome of secrecy" after the UCP shut down NDP efforts to make it public. UCP committee member Garth Rowswell countered that the committee is simply approving the panel's ability to hire the people it wants to consult, and accused the NDP of intruding on the panel's independent work. The dispute follows the government's decision earlier this year to set aside most of a report from a previous independent public commission and restart the boundary process, saying it wants to ensure fair representation for rural areas as the province's population shifts to urban centres. The NDP contends the UCP is using rural representation as cover to redraw ridings in its favour ahead of the next election, set for October 2027.
- Elections Alberta rejected musician Corb Lund's Water Not Coal petition last Friday, saying it failed to meet the requirements for a citizen initiative petition. The petition, which called on the province to ban all new coal mining in the Eastern Slopes of the Rocky Mountains, needed 177,732 verified signatures, representing 10% of electors in the last provincial election, and while organizers submitted more than 196,000, Elections Alberta says only 172,088 could be verified. The agency says it found duplicate signatures and others with invalid dates or incomplete information during validation, while some signatories later could not be reached or were unable or unwilling to verify their information. Lund said he had "grave concerns" about the fairness of the process, pointing to provincial changes to electoral legislation that quashed his original petition application last year and forced him to reapply. The premier's office said it respects the integrity of the verification process, and that the government is finalizing a new coal development policy that will require new mining projects in the Eastern Slopes to use underground mining techniques to keep selenium out of rivers and will ban new open-pit mine projects.
- Hospital and Surgical Health Services Minister Adriana LaGrange announced that eligible Alberta doctors will be able to work in both the public and private systems starting this fall, with an expression of interest process opening June 22nd and formal applications later in the summer. To qualify for dual practice, physicians must also complete a minimum number of public-system hours, which the Government says will be set by specialty and region and will serve as a safeguard, and doctors who fail to keep up those hours will lose their dual-practice status. LaGrange said the model will help shorten wait times, arguing the status quo is not working, and that eligible procedures include non-hospital surgeries such as carpal tunnel release and joint surgery, while cancer and other life-threatening procedures are excluded. Family doctors are excluded unless they hold a subspecialty in anesthesia or surgical skills, and dual-practice physicians must keep separate private records and report to the Government. The provincial government compares the approach to systems in Sweden, the United Kingdom and France, but NDP critic Sharif Haji called it an American-style two-tier system that Smith did not campaign on in 2023, and urged the Government to put it on a ballot.
- On the fiscal front, Premier Danielle Smith announced that Albertans with combined household incomes of $225,000 or less who filed a 2025 tax return are eligible for a one-time, tax-free payment of $100 under the new Alberta Energy Rebate, with applications opening July 1st. The Government estimates about 3.4 million Albertans will receive the money, and Finance Minister Jason Nixon said roughly 70% of residents will qualify. The rebate replaces the fuel tax relief program that paused part of the provincial fuel tax when oil prices were high, and Smith said it directs more dollars to those who need it most, whether or not they drive. The Government's treasury has benefited from high oil prices tied to conflict in the Middle East, with West Texas Intermediate, the benchmark Alberta uses, reaching as high as $104 a barrel on May 19th. Critics called the amount too small to matter. The plan has invited comparison to former premier Ralph Klein's $400 cheques in 2006, though Alberta's finances are weaker now than they were then.
- Smith is also pushing back after a group of Indigenous chiefs accused her of potentially treasonous activity for calling a fall referendum on Alberta's place in Canada. The Assembly of Treaty Chiefs, which represents Treaty 6, Treaty 7 and Treaty 8 First Nations across the province, voted unanimously to ask the RCMP to examine whether the referendum amounts to criminal treason by Smith and her United Conservative Party. The chiefs argue the vote is an intentional violation of the treaty relationship, ignores risks to Canada's sovereignty, and has proceeded despite what they describe as significant risks of foreign interference. Smith called the accusation disgraceful, saying she has had her own differences with the federal government but has never used such language, and that it has no place in a democracy. She said her government and the assembly have a collaborative relationship she wants to continue, and asked the chiefs to respect Alberta's pursuit of a new relationship with Ottawa that respects provincial jurisdiction. Albertans are set to vote on October 19th on whether to remain in Canada or begin the process toward a second, binding referendum on leaving the country.
- Ahead of that vote, the provincial government has commissioned the University of Calgary's School of Public Policy to analyze the cost of Alberta leaving Canada and formed an expert advisory panel to review the work, at a combined cost of up to $1.5 million, according to a spokesperson for Finance Minister Jason Nixon. The panel is led by economist Jack Mintz and includes former Saskatchewan NDP finance minister Janice MacKinnon, former Alberta finance minister Ted Morton, Business Council of Alberta president Adam Legge, and Cenovus Energy board chair Alex Pourbaix. The School of Public Policy's Director, Martha Hall Findlay, said the report will assume separation is legally possible and estimate the cost of Alberta delivering services the federal government now provides, from passports and the RCMP to aviation regulation and the military, with completion expected by the end of summer. Premier Danielle Smith has estimated that quitting Confederation could cost the province $400 billion plus an annual price tag of up to $50 billion, while separatist leaders peg startup costs at no more than $5.7 billion.
- Finally, Premier Danielle Smith says it may be too late to add a question on banning new coal mining to the October 19th provincial vote, despite a petition led by musician Corb Lund that delivered more than 200,000 signatures. If Elections Alberta verifies the required 178,000 signatures, the Government would be forced either to consider a law banning new coal mining or to send the question to a province-wide referendum. Smith said Elections Alberta needed all final questions by June 1st to prepare, and with signature validation still underway, the petition could instead go to a legislature committee. She said that the committee could recommend a province-wide vote in October of 2027, and warned that a bill could get complicated because existing legislation requires compensation when private property rights are taken away. Lund has said he expects the Government to use the petition's exact wording, including project-specific development bans, and does not trust it to do so.
- The provincial government has filed its appeal of the court ruling that quashed the petition seeking a vote on Alberta leaving Canada, arguing that the judge made 14 errors in her decision. Court of King's Bench Justice Shaina Leonard found that the petition should not have been issued under provincial law and that the government neglected its duty to consult First Nations, after a group of First Nations challenged the petition. The campaign's leaders have said almost 302,000 Albertans signed the petition before it was thrown out. In the appeal, filed Wednesday in Edmonton court, the Province argues that issuing the petition did not trigger the duty to consult and that the judge failed to give weight to the democratic purpose of the petition process, though it will not be applying to have the appeal expedited. Stay Free Alberta, the group behind the petition, filed its own appeal last month, making many of the same legal arguments. Premier Danielle Smith, who called the original ruling "anti-democratic", has since announced a separate referendum on October 19th asking whether Albertans want to remain in Canada or start the process toward a second, binding referendum on separation.
- Speaking of the referendum, Elections Alberta has launched the largest recruitment campaign for electoral workers in Alberta's history, saying a minimum of 60,000 workers will be needed for the October 19th vote. The agency says that with 10 questions on the ballot, that workforce is required to meet the 48-hour deadline for completing the unofficial count. It will print 45 million ballots, far more than the 1.8 million ballots cast in Alberta's 2023 provincial election and the 19.8 million cast in the 2025 federal election. By comparison, the 2023 provincial election used 13,095 workers and cost approximately $37 million, while Elections Alberta normally operates with 48 permanent staff. The agency told Postmedia there is currently no budget for the referendum and there will not be one until the fall, with several variables still affecting costs. Chief Electoral Officer Gordon McClure called the referendum "a colossal undertaking", and the agency noted that the 1995 Quebec referendum required 57,000 electoral workers to assist 4.8 million voters.
- Restaurants, bars, clubs and other businesses with a liquor licence can now serve alcohol starting at 6:00 am under new rules introduced Tuesday by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis. Previously, the earliest alcohol could be served was 9:00 am, and serving outside the set hours required an application with two weeks' notice spelling out the specific days and hours requested. The government cited a reduction in bureaucracy as a reason for the change, with Minister of Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Dale Nally saying it "cuts red tape and makes life easier for Alberta businesses". Restaurants and bars have been receiving permission to serve alcohol during special events for more than 10 years, with few compliance issues. The Alberta Hospitality Association said the change will save businesses time and possibly boost sales, calling the timing helpful ahead of the World Cup and the Calgary Stampede.
- A bipartisan committee of MLAs is exploring whether politicians and caucus staff should be able to claim reimbursement for work-related e-scooter and e-bike rides, adding them to a list that already includes taxi rides, car rentals and some airfares. The Committee unanimously passed a motion Tuesday to see whether corporate agreements are an option with one or more providers, such as Lime, Bird Canada and Neuron Mobility. A report from the Legislative Assembly Office advised against the move, noting that micro-mobility companies generally require riders to assume all risks, which could leave politicians and staff without insurance coverage if injured. The office also said it appears no other province clearly permits politicians and caucus staff to expense e-scooter and e-bike rides. UCP committee member Nolan Dyck, who tabled the motion, said e-scooters and e-bikes are quick and cheap, and that they are showing up across Alberta while the rules have not always kept pace. Legislative Assembly staff have until Friday to report back on whether corporate agreements would be feasible, including whether the companies would waive or modify their standard liability rules.
- Hospitals Minister Adriana LaGrange has ordered an immediate halt to the rebranding of Emergency Health Services Alberta as ALTA Paramedic Health, directing the agency to return to its previous name and logo until further engagement is done. Acute Care Alberta announced the name change on May 15th, with the rebrand set to put new logos on ambulances across the province and new uniforms on paramedics. The government claimed at the time that the change signalled a renewed commitment to high-quality care and accountability. Critics, including the Health Sciences Association of Alberta, the union representing about 3,500 paramedics across the province, called the rebrand a waste of resources that should instead go toward addressing working conditions and staff shortages. LaGrange said she has heard from Albertans and front-line workers about the rebranding and shares their concerns. Union president Leanne Alfaro said paramedics are proud of their identity as first responders and have consistently emphasized putting resources toward strengthening emergency care and retaining the professionals who deliver it. [Editors Note: 0118 999 881 999 119 725... 3]
- Albertans will begin receiving new all-in-one identification cards on July 2nd, as promised last year with the passage of Bill 10. The new cards will combine existing driver's license or ID cards with Alberta health cards and proof of citizenship. Alberta is the last province in Canada still using paper health-care cards, despite countless governments promising to phase them out over many years. Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said there is no political or Big Brother motivation behind the citizenship marker, noting that more than 60 jurisdictions worldwide integrate citizenship information on licences and that proof of status is already required to apply for programs such as student aid and income supports. Nally said there are hundreds of thousands more health-care cards in circulation than there are Albertans, pointing to what he called rampant fraud that the new secure cards are meant to curb. He said the discrepancy may partly reflect people who have died but remain in the system, or those who move away and leave their paper cards behind. The redesigned cards also add enhanced security features.
- The Alberta Prosperity Project is publicly disputing Premier Danielle Smith's estimate of what independence would cost, after Smith said Monday that separation would carry almost $400 billion in transitional costs plus $25 billion to $50 billion in annual costs to stand up a new national government. Smith cited expenses such as assuming Alberta's share of the national debt and the Canada Pension Plan, regulating banks, railways and telecoms, running border control and post offices, meeting NATO commitments, and renegotiating trade deals. Jeffrey Rath, general counsel for the group, called Smith's numbers completely false, arguing many of those systems already exist and would simply be taken over, and pointed to the group's own costed plan projecting a fiscal surplus of $29.4 billion to $48.3 billion. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe has called that plan a fiscal fantasy, noting that scrapping income and sales taxes would cut nearly $80 billion from revenues, more than half of what the group assumes the new country would collect. The group also believes Canada owes Alberta around $334 billion in pension costs but expects an actual transfer of about $167 billion. Smith says the Province will release its own costing document to Albertans before August.
- The provincial government announced a new patient-focused funding model that ties hospital funding to the volume of care delivered rather than a fixed budget. A dozen hospitals are operating under the first phrase, 9 run by Alberta Health Services and 3 by Covenant Health. The model applies to hip replacements, knee replacements, cataract surgery, and shoulder rotator cuff repair, covering 26,000 procedures in 2026-27. Per-surgery funding varies by classification, with hip replacements ranging from $8,900 to $33,440, knee replacements from $8,530 to $24,790, cataract surgery from $880 to $1,600, and rotator cuff repairs set at $6,800. Premier Danielle Smith said the model will drive surgery costs down as chartered surgical facility operators bid to perform blocks of procedures at lower prices. Officials described the first year as a learning year and said they will monitor quality using patient experience scores, 30-day unplanned readmission rates, and average length of stay.
- Alberta public service managers quietly received a double-digit pay increase late last year. Executive Director salary ranges rose from $136,631 to $179,559 last October to between $153,903 and $202,256, a 12.6% increase at both the minimum and the maximum. An internal document circulated to staff said the timing was driven largely by collective bargaining results, so that some frontline managers would not end up paid less than the staff they supervise. A statement from the office of Finance Minister Jason Nixon said the increase for senior officials was adjusted down from the 3% negotiated for bargaining-unit employees, producing an estimated $4.8 million in savings for taxpayers. The changes also reclassified some Chiefs of Staff positions as Executive Director roles. They come as 8 government MLAs serving as parliamentary secretaries began receiving a newly approved $6,000 annual allowance on Monday.
- A special committee of MLAs overseeing changes to Alberta's electoral boundaries has named former justice Brian O'Ferrall as chair of the independent advisory panel. The appointment passed on Tuesday despite Opposition concerns about a lack of applicants and the transparency of the process, with the acting chief justice, the Canadian Bar Association, and the law society all declining to participate. The NDP said O'Ferrall donated just under $2,800 to the UCP between 2022 and 2025 and $6,850 to the federal Conservative Party between 2023 and 2024, raising questions about the panel's independence. UCP MLA Garth Rowswell, who moved the motion, said retired judges are permitted to donate to parties and that the contributions, made in compliance with the law, do not affect O'Ferrall's ability to act impartially. Several NDP motions, including one to rescind the appointment and another to interview both candidates, were defeated
- Premier Danielle Smith's cabinet issued an order-in-council confirming the official wording of the October 19th referendum question, which asks Albertans whether the province should remain in Canada or whether the government should begin the legal process required under the Constitution to hold a binding separation referendum. Some critics have labelled this as just a referendum-to-have-a-referendum, but Smith says this is the only wording that would work given the recent court ruling that is under appeal. Some proponents of independence have actually welcomed the wording, believing it will allow some undecided voters to vote to "continue the discussion", without having to fully commit to separation. The question will sit at the top of a stack of 10 colour-coded ballots covering constitutional and immigration matters, and voters may decline to answer any or all of them.
- ATCO is awaiting a final regulatory decision that would allow it to begin building a $2.9-billion, 235-kilometre natural gas pipeline from the hamlet of Peers, west of Edmonton, to the Fort Saskatchewan area. The Yellowhead pipeline would move more than 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily through a high-pressure, 36-inch underground steel pipe. The company says the line is needed to serve the fast-growing industrial heartland north of Edmonton, where demand from power generation, petrochemical processing, and residential development continues to rise. ATCO filed its final application with the Alberta Utilities Commission in November 2025, and a hearing was held in recent weeks. A decision is expected within months, with construction possibly beginning as early as September if approval is granted.
- Alberta is requiring daycare facilities to post visible notices of high-risk incidents involving children within one business day of being reported, effective today. A corresponding notice will also be published on the government's website listing the facility's name and the date the incident was reported. Childcare Minister Demetrios Nicolaides announced the policy change following three separate incidents at Edmonton facilities - including one where parents waited two months before learning of sexual assault allegations against a former worker who had already left the country before a second victim came forward. Since those revelations, a former worker at Learn-N-Share Daycare pleaded guilty to aggravated assault, and a worker at Kidstown Daycare was charged with sexual assault. A broader review of the Early Child Learning Act is ongoing, with the new notification requirements introduced as an interim measure.
- Alberta's Virtual MD program, embedded within Health Link's 811 service, is expanding to cover children and newborns for the first time. Joining the program's roster in June are eight new pediatric emergency physicians. Care for newborns up to three months old - currently excluded from the service - is expected to follow later this summer. Since its launch in 2022, the program has handled more than 150,000 referrals, with approximately 115 patients directed to a physician each day. Of those, about 60% receive home-care advice and only 8.5% are directed to an emergency department, with the remainder referred to a primary care provider or walk-in clinic. The expansion will be run by Primary Care Alberta and is intended to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits for parents of young children who lack access to a family doctor.
- Premiers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba presented an overall message of "unity, certainty and stability" at the Western Premiers Conference in Kananaskis, though Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew did have a public disagreement over treaty rights and the constitutional duty to consult at the closing press conference. Smith said she believes courts need to clarify whether the duty to consult applies to citizen initiative petitions, referencing a recent Alberta court decision that quashed a separatist group's referendum question on the grounds that the province had failed to consult First Nations. Kinew, who is Anishinaabe and had met with Alberta First Nations representatives the day before, rejected Smith's framing, saying the duty to consult rests with the provincial government - not with private petition gatherers. Kinew seemed to have misunderstood Smith, however, as she wasn't suggesting that signature collectors were responsible for consultation. Rather, she was saying that only government actions, not citizens collecting signatures, should trigger the duty to consult. Alberta has announced it will appeal the court decision and expects the question to reach the Supreme Court of Canada.
- Premier Danielle Smith announced that Albertans will vote this October on whether the provincial government should begin the legal process required to hold a future binding referendum on Alberta separating from Canada. The proposed ballot question asks whether Alberta should remain a province of Canada or whether the government should move toward a binding provincial referendum on separation, and Smith emphasized that a “yes” vote would not immediately trigger separation itself. Smith said she personally plans to vote for Alberta to remain in Canada, while also criticizing a recent court ruling that halted a separatist petition backed by Stay Free Alberta. Separatist organizers, including lawyer Jeff Rath, accused Smith of watering down the issue and abandoning supporters who wanted a direct vote on independence. Meanwhile, pro-Canada advocates, First Nations leaders, and municipal officials pushed back against the referendum plan, arguing it creates division and distracts from issues like health care, homelessness, and the economy.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney is emphasizing national unity and saying Alberta remains “essential” to Canada after a referendum was announced that could lead to a binding vote on separation. Carney framed the moment as part of a broader effort to strengthen “co-operative federalism,” arguing that Canada is actively improving and that Alberta plays a central role in that progress. His comments come in response to growing separatist sentiment in Alberta, which has been fuelled by long-standing disputes over energy policy and the province’s role in Confederation. Smith has defended the referendum plan as a way to reflect public frustration and give Albertans a democratic voice, even as she personally says she would vote to remain in Canada. Federal opposition leader Pierre Poilievre also weighed in, promising Conservatives will campaign to keep the country united while criticizing Liberal leadership for failing to prevent regional division. The debate comes alongside a new federal-provincial energy agreement and proposed pipeline development, which Carney says demonstrates ongoing cooperation and Alberta’s importance to the national economy.
- Premier Danielle Smith has shuffled Alberta’s cabinet, moving six ministers into new roles. Veteran UCP minister Jason Nixon was promoted to finance minister, replacing Nathan Horner, who asked to leave cabinet because he does not plan to run in the 2027 election. Adriana LaGrange moved from primary health care to hospital and surgical services, while Justin Wright was promoted to oversee primary health care as part of the government’s continuing health system restructuring. New MLA Tara Sawyer joined cabinet as agriculture minister, replacing RJ Sigurdson, who moved to affordability and utilities. Smith said the changes are aimed at advancing priorities such as health-care reform, tax competitiveness, and investment growth.
- The Alberta government is replacing the longtime “Wild Rose Country” slogan on border-crossing signs with the new phrase “Welcome to Alberta. Strong and Free.” The updated signs will begin appearing this fall at 22 entry points along Alberta’s borders with British Columbia, Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories, and Montana. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen said the new branding is meant to better reflect Alberta’s identity and align with the Province’s broader “Strong and Free” messaging. The change comes as the government also rolls out new licence plates this summer featuring the same slogan and an image of Moraine Lake in Banff National Park. According to the Province, the current “Wild Rose Country” signs are more than 40 years old and have deteriorated due to weather exposure. Replacing the signs is expected to cost about $3.5 million.
- The Alberta government says it will begin consultation sessions later this year on a long-term strategy for managing oilsands tailings ponds and mine wastewater. The engagement process will include Indigenous communities, municipalities, environmental organizations, industry representatives, and federal agencies as the Province considers recommendations made by a steering committee last year. Those recommendations include the controversial idea of releasing treated tailings water into the Athabasca River and exploring the use of reclaimed end-pit lakes at former mine sites. Tany Yao, the UCP MLA who chaired the committee, said existing technology can address environmental concerns, but some Indigenous leaders strongly disagree. Leaders from communities downstream of the oilsands, including Mikisew Cree First Nation, have argued that releasing treated wastewater into the river poses unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. Environmental groups such as the Pembina Institute say Alberta needs more transparency and stronger safeguards before any final plan is adopted. The Province estimates there are currently more than 1.5 trillion litres of fluid tailings and 380 billion litres of mine water in the oilsands region, making long-term cleanup and reclamation a growing environmental challenge.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith announced a new climate and energy agreement that could pave the way for construction of a new oil pipeline to Canada’s West Coast beginning in September 2027. Under the deal, Alberta will submit a pipeline proposal to the federal government by July 1st, with Ottawa expected to designate it a project of national interest by October. The agreement also outlines a revised industrial carbon pricing framework that would gradually raise Alberta’s legislated carbon price to $130 per tonne by 2040, rather than the previously planned $170 per tonne by 2030. However, the deal also requires the effective market price that companies actually pay to rise from about $20 to about $110. Both governments said the proposed pipeline and the Pathways carbon capture project are linked, though the emissions reduction targets for Pathways appear to have been scaled back from earlier projections. Smith called the agreement a major step toward making Canada a global energy leader, while Carney framed it as an example of “co-operative federalism” and rebuilding trust between Ottawa and Alberta. Critics, including BC Premier David Eby and environmental groups, argued the deal weakens climate goals and rewards Alberta’s political pressure tactics, while Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Ottawa is still moving too slowly on pipeline construction. The agreement also temporarily pauses federal clean electricity regulations in Alberta while a court challenge proceeds, with both governments expected to negotiate further depending on the outcome of the case.
- An Alberta judge has blocked a separatist referendum petition, ruling that Premier Danielle Smith’s government breached its duty to consult with First Nations prior to the commencement of signature collection. Justice Shaina Leonard stated that secession would undeniably impact Treaties 7 and 8 and noted that First Nations had been raising concerns for over a year. The Province says it will be appealing the ruling as the judge has made a clear "error in law", as consultation is only required when formal steps towards secession are taken by the government, not simply when citizens start collecting signatures for a petition that could lead to a referendum that could lead to independence. Though an appeal of the striking down of the citizens' initiative petition will take time, the government still has the option to put the question on the ballot itself via the usual Referendum Act process.
- Alberta is spending $200 million through a new grant to hire 1,400 more teachers for grades K-9 during the 2026-27 school year. This funding, part of a larger $355-million budget for classroom complexity, aims to reduce the provincial average class size from 25 to 22. While large urban boards in Calgary and Edmonton will receive the most significant funding - such as $48.8 million for the Calgary Board of Education - every school division is guaranteed at least $405,000. The Alberta Teachers’ Association welcomed the investment but expressed concern that high schools were excluded and questioned the long-term sustainability of the funding. The NDP opposition criticized the move as insufficient to address existing pressures. This initiative builds on a previous $143-million allocation for "complexity teams" in K-6 schools, with the Province promising a new student support framework in the near future.
- The Alberta government says it will replace the current Good Driver Rate Cap with a new two-part auto insurance rate cap when the Province’s Care-First insurance model takes effect on January 1st, 2027. Under the new system, insurers will be limited to average annual rate increases of 5% across their overall customer base, while individual premium increases for average drivers will be capped at 10% at renewal. Finance Minister Nate Horner said the changes are intended to provide broader rate protection and ensure drivers benefit from the savings expected under the Care-First model. The Province estimates drivers with basic coverage could save an average of about $366 per vehicle, based on analysis by consulting firm Oliver Wyman, although savings will vary depending on individual circumstances and renewal timing. Alberta says the current Good Driver Rate Cap can exclude drivers after minor infractions, switching insurers, moving communities or changing vehicles, while the new model is intended to provide more consistent protection. The Care-First system will shift Alberta away from a litigation-focused model by expanding medical and income replacement benefits while limiting lawsuits primarily to cases involving criminal driving offences or costs exceeding policy limits. Provincial materials state the new model will provide faster access to treatment, including physiotherapy and psychological care, while offering income replacement coverage of up to $125,000 annually until retirement age.
- The Alberta government says it plans to introduce legislation this fall that would give the Province the ability to review or remove bike lanes, with Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshen arguing that growing cities need more road capacity and that some bike lanes create traffic issues. Dreeshen said the government wants to respond to residents who oppose certain bike lane projects and did not rule out removing existing lanes in Calgary and Edmonton that were previously criticized by the province. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack opposed the proposal, saying the city takes a data-driven approach to transportation planning and warning that retroactively removing bike lanes could have significant consequences. Cycling advocates also criticized the move, arguing the Province is overstepping municipal authority and that protected bike lanes are important for encouraging less experienced cyclists to ride safely. The proposed legislation follows a similar effort by the Ontario government to remove bike lanes in Toronto, which was struck down in court as unconstitutional and is currently under appeal.
- Elections Alberta has issued 568 cease-and-desist letters after a publicly accessible database linked to the Centurion Project exposed the personal information of nearly 3 million Alberta voters. Officials say 23 individuals who received the voter list directly from the separatist group have been ordered to sign declarations confirming compliance within 48 hours, while another 545 people were identified as having accessed the database. The information was traced back to an official voter list obtained by the Republican Party of Alberta, with investigators using “salted” fictitious names embedded in the records to confirm the source of the leak. Elections Alberta has already secured a temporary injunction forcing the database offline and is now seeking a permanent injunction in a Court of King’s Bench hearing scheduled for later this summer. The matter is also being investigated by the Alberta RCMP and the Province’s privacy commissioner, while political leaders continue to face questions about how the data was shared and who had access to it. Premier Danielle Smith has said those responsible should be held accountable under the law, as calls grow for stronger protections around voter information and a possible public inquiry into the breach.
- Premier Danielle Smith said she is increasingly confident that Alberta and Ottawa are close to reaching a deal that could pave the way for a new pipeline project following talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney in Ottawa. Smith remarked that her outlook shifted from “if” a deal happens to “when” it happens after discussions helped narrow disagreements between the two governments, particularly around industrial carbon pricing and emissions policies. She argued that reaching an agreement quickly is important not only for Alberta’s energy sector, but also to show frustrated Albertans that Confederation can still deliver results amid growing separatist sentiment in the province. Meanwhile, British Columbia Premier David Eby expressed concern that pipeline plans still lack a confirmed route and project proponent and pushed Ottawa to support BC energy projects instead. The federal government also released new discussion papers proposing faster approval processes for interprovincial pipelines and transmission lines, a move welcomed cautiously by industry groups but criticized by environmental organizations.
- Lesser Slave Lake MLA Scott Sinclair has officially rejoined the United Conservative Party caucus after spending more than a year as an independent. Sinclair was removed from caucus in March 2025 after publicly criticizing the provincial budget and threatening not to support it, arguing rural Alberta was being overlooked in favour of major cities. In a public apology this week, Sinclair said his criticism was driven by passion for his constituents but acknowledged there were better ways to handle disagreements within government. UCP officials, including chief government whip Justin Wright, said Sinclair showed renewed commitment to working as part of the government team following a period of reflection. After leaving caucus, Sinclair and former UCP MLA Peter Guthrie attempted to revive Alberta’s Progressive Conservative brand, leading to a lawsuit from the UCP over the use of the party’s name and identity. Sinclair now says the UCP caucus is “where I belong” and praised the government’s investments in northern Alberta.
- The Alberta government has announced plans to establish a provincial forensic DNA laboratory in Sherwood Park, with an $8.9 million investment aimed at reducing both turnaround times and costs for DNA analysis. Officials say the facility, the first of its kind in Western Canada, will allow the Province to process samples locally rather than relying on federal laboratories, which currently cost about $2,482 per case. Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis said Alberta expects costs could drop by up to 40%, and the Province is seeking a cost-sharing arrangement similar to those in Ontario and Quebec. Under the proposed model, the federal government would cover a portion of operating expenses, with officials suggesting the lab could eventually operate at net-zero cost to provincial taxpayers by 2031. Law enforcement leaders, including Edmonton Police Service Chief Warren Driechel, say having a local lab would significantly speed up investigations by reducing delays tied to national processing queues. The facility is expected to open in stages, beginning with property crime analysis in 2029 and expanding to more serious offences such as homicides and sexual assaults by 2031.
- An all-party Alberta legislature committee has begun searching for a current or former judge to lead a new three-member panel tasked with redrawing the province’s electoral boundaries after the government rejected recommendations from the previous independent commission. The process has become increasingly controversial, with Opposition NDP members accusing the UCP government of politicizing boundary changes and undermining transparency. The original Commission’s majority report proposed adding more seats to Calgary and Edmonton while reducing rural representation, but the government instead pushed to increase the legislature from 89 to 91 seats and revisit the maps through a new advisory process. Critics argue the move amounts to politicians redrawing electoral boundaries because they disliked the independent commission’s conclusions, an accusation Premier Danielle Smith denies. Committee Chair Brandon Lunty said the new panel is expected to be assembled by the end of May and will review the information gathered through extensive public consultations already conducted by the previous commission. The revised electoral boundary recommendations are expected to return to the legislature by November.
- A new poll suggests most Albertans are skeptical that the federal-provincial memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith will actually lead to a new oil pipeline to the BC coast. About 57% of respondents said they are not confident the agreement will result in construction, while 37% expressed confidence, reflecting what analysts describe as widespread “pipeline fatigue” after multiple cancelled projects over the past two decades. The skepticism is rooted in Alberta’s history of failed proposals such as Northern Gateway, Energy East, and Keystone XL, which have shaped public expectations about major infrastructure deals. While supporters argue the MOU could still succeed if regulatory conditions and commercial interest align, key deadlines and requirements have already slipped, adding to uncertainty. The poll also shows political divisions, with confidence in the agreement largely tied to views on federal leadership and Alberta’s approach to Ottawa.
- Speaking of polling, a new Alberta poll suggests NDP leader Naheed Nenshi is struggling, with even fewer voters now saying they are strongly impressed by him compared to last year. Only about 20% of Albertans say they are “very impressed” with Nenshi. Meanwhile, Premier Danielle Smith continues to outperform him in public perception across most demographic groups. Despite the weaker numbers, the party’s caucus remains publicly supportive, and some former NDP insiders argue Nenshi is still adjusting to provincial politics and has time to improve before the next election. Others suggest the party is struggling to clearly define his message and connect with voters beyond its core base, limiting broader appeal. With the election still over a year away, both supporters and critics agree his standing could still shift depending on how effectively the NDP capitalizes on upcoming political issues.
- Premier Danielle Smith says those responsible for the alleged release of voters’ personal information online must be held accountable under the law, following reports that a grassroots group gained access to an electoral database containing millions of Albertans’ names and addresses. The data was reportedly derived from an official voters list that had been legitimately provided to the Republican Party of Alberta, though investigators are still working to determine how it was obtained and transferred. The RCMP and Elections Alberta are both investigating the incident, and a court has already ordered the database removed. Smith emphasized that protecting personal information is a priority for her government, but said further action will depend on the outcome of ongoing investigations. The Province’s Privacy Commissioner has also raised concerns, calling the situation a serious breach and pointing to gaps in existing laws governing political parties’ handling of personal data. She has urged legislative changes to strengthen privacy protections and reduce the risk of similar incidents in the future.
- Alberta launched a pilot project increasing the speed limit to 120 km/h on a 22-kilometre stretch of the Queen Elizabeth II Highway south of Leduc. This is the first time an Alberta highway has a posted limit of 120 km/h. Transportation Minister Devin Dreeshan stated the move follows infrastructure upgrades and a survey showing 70% public support. While the government does not anticipate more collisions since many drivers already travel at these speeds, critics worry about "speed creep" to 130 km/h or higher. Experts also warned of speed differentials creating hazards between fast cars and slower vehicles like trucks or snowplows. Improved road technology and vehicle safety features may help mitigate risks. The Province will monitor traffic data and safety outcomes throughout the pilot to determine if higher limits should be adopted elsewhere.
- Prime Minister Mark Carney says a new pipeline to move Alberta oil to market is “more likely than not,” though he stressed the project is still not guaranteed and would require further work and private-sector backing. He linked the potential development to rising global energy demand and Canada’s goal of expanding exports to Asian markets, while also emphasizing the need to reduce emissions from oil production. Carney said the pipeline discussions are part of a broader federal-provincial agreement with Alberta and that multiple route options remain under consideration. He also referenced the recent US approval of the Bridger Pipeline expansion by Donald Trump as part of a wider shift in North American energy policy. Premier Danielle Smith continues to advocate for a northern route to the BC coast, though other corridors are also still being evaluated. While the federal government is signalling openness, officials noted that no project can proceed without industry investment and formal proposals.