Alberta’s Smith vows to keep up fight against Ottawa despite pipeline pact

The Alberta Indigenous Opportunities Corporation has been designated as a key partner in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Ottawa and Alberta regarding a pipeline project aimed at transporting oil to the British Columbia coast. This agreement has sparked a division among Indigenous groups, with some expressing concerns over the implications for their rights and the environment.

The Alberta government has reached a deal with Ottawa that includes a commitment to potentially adjust the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, which currently restricts the transport of oil by tanker along British Columbia's coast. This agreement aims to facilitate the export of bitumen from Alberta to the West Coast, amid ongoing discussions about a pipeline project to British Columbia's North Coast.

At the recent United Conservative Party (UCP) convention in Alberta, Premier Danielle Smith faced boos from delegates when she inquired about their confidence in Canada following the signing of a pipeline memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Ottawa. This reaction underscores the contentious nature of the agreement, which aims to advance a pipeline project from Alberta to the Pacific coast.

The Canadian Prime Minister's recent oil deal with Alberta has faced significant backlash, particularly from First Nations groups who have threatened to oppose the project, deeming it unfeasible. This deal follows the Haida nation's landmark victory for land recognition, which underscores the ongoing struggles of Indigenous communities in asserting their rights over traditional territories.