CANADALAND

Will Carney's Pipeline Stop Alberta From Separating?

Oct 6, 2026 · 43 min · 11 segments

It took Danielle Smith (basically) a year to get her new West Coast pipeline from Ottawa - a massive project with a price tag between 35 to 44 billion dollars. Alberta is pushing for construction to…

It took Danielle Smith (basically) a year to get her new West Coast pipeline from Ottawa - a massive project with a price tag between 35 to 44 billion dollars. Alberta is pushing for construction to start in less than a year. That timeline is a big test for Carney, because it will be the first project to use the fast-tracking powers his government passed through the controversial Bill C-5. But, there are still a ton of unanswered questions, Falice Chin of the Hub joins host Noor Azrieh to answer them. What exactly has the government signed us up for? Plus, an update on David Eby’s snap election in BC with Mo Amir from *This is VANCOLOUR.* Host: Noor Azrieh Credits: Aviva Lessard (Senior Producer), Noor Azrieh (Host/Producer), Kallan Lyons (Associate Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor and Technical Producer), Jesse Brown (Editor), Tony Wang (Artwork) Guests: Falice Chin, Mo Amir Background reading: - 6 unanswered questions hanging over Alberta’s ‘Pacific Link’ oil pipeline – The Hub - Carney’s expensive Alberta truce: the Pacific Link pipeline – The Narwhal - Carney, Smith say new West Coast pipeline could get oil companies building again – CBC News - How a new oil pipeline could open new markets for Canada — and deepen U.S. ties – Edmonton Journal - Indigenous, local leaders optimistic about new pipeline despite “host of issues” Carney says Federal government is yet to address – Edmonton Journal - Canada’s Proposed Oil Pipeline Offers Carney Relief From Domestic and Global Turmoil – The New York Times - Fast-tracked pipeline project to squeeze Indigenous consultation timelines – CTV News Sponsors: If you’re ready to launch your business before Black Friday, go to SHOPIFY.COM to start your free trial. Visit fizz.ca to learn more about Fizz mobile and its long list of added-value features, and activate a first plan using the referral code CAN25 to get 25 off and 10GB of free data. BetterHelp can connect you with a therapist who gets you, so you can make space for what matters to you. Sign up and get 10% off your first month at BetterHelp.com/CANADALAND Did you know we have a monthly supporter exclusive show? On last week’s episode of *Off The Record* senior producer James Nicholson asked you to tell him stories about whats going on in your backyard. We wanted to hear your local stories, and y’all did not disappoint! If you want to hear that (or if you want to catch up on all the great episodes of *Off The Record* you’ve missed!) become a supporter at canadaland.com/join! It’s our annual crowdfunding month! You can become a supporter starting for just $5/month by going to canadaland.com/join — we’ll even throw in a free tote bag. And be sure to stay tuned for some big announcements over the next few weeks. Make sure you’re up to date on our upcoming events by going to canadaland.com/live! Can't get enough Canadaland? Follow us @Canadaland\_Podcasts on Instagram and @Canadaland\_Media on TikTok! * * * Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It took Danielle Smith (basically) a year to get her new West Coast pipeline from Ottawa - a massive project with a price tag between 35 to 44 billion dollars. Alberta is pushing for construction to…

Canada's New Pacific Link Pipeline2:48 – 7:23

Noor AzriehHost

2:48

Well, good morning, everyone.

Noor AzriehHost

2:50

We're getting a pipeline.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

2:53

The government of Canada is officially listing the West Coast Pipeline, now known as Pacific Link, as a project of national interest.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

3:02

Oh, yeah.

Noor AzriehHost

3:04

Last Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was showing all 32 standing behind Prime Minister Carney and his version of a big shiny red bow.

Noor AzriehHost

3:14

A sign that reads, Canada strong for all.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

3:18

This is a Canada that works.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

3:20

A Canada that recognizes opportunity and it seizes it.

Noor AzriehHost

3:26

They were in Fort McMurray, Alberta, announcing Canada's first project of national interest, a new bitumen pipeline to the Pacific coast called the Pacific Link.

Noor AzriehHost

3:39

For too long, we've watched projects with enormous transformative potential get mired down in uncertainty and delay.

Noor AzriehHost

3:45

And today we're turning the page.

Noor AzriehHost

3:46

Is she talking about Trudeau? It feels like she's talking about Trudeau.

Noor AzriehHost

3:55

The Pacific Link Pipeline would run for 1,211 kilometers.

Noor AzriehHost

4:00

That's 24 marathons in a row, plus a little sprint at the end.

Noor AzriehHost

4:06

The pipeline would start in Alberta, in Bruderheim, 60-ish kilometers away from Edmonton.

Noor AzriehHost

4:12

It would cross into British Columbia, largely along the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline corridor, and end at a port in Delta, south of Vancouver.

Noor AzriehHost

4:23

From there, tankers would ship a million barrels of homegrown Alberta bitumen a day to the rest of the world.

Noor AzriehHost

4:33

And those bitumen-filled tankers would be traveling through waters Carney had just spent $1.2 billion in federal funding to protect, literally days before the pipeline announcement.

Noor AzriehHost

4:52

This is a massive project with a price tag between $35 to $44 billion.

Noor AzriehHost

5:01

And when Carney outlined the deal last year, he said the pipeline would have to be privately built and financed.

Noor AzriehHost

5:09

But that's just not the case right now.

Noor AzriehHost

5:11

Canadian tax dollars are paying for almost all of this thing.

Noor AzriehHost

5:16

Ottawa and Alberta are funding 90% of the project.

Noor AzriehHost

5:21

And Alberta's pushing for construction to start soon, like less than a year soon.

Noor AzriehHost

5:27

And that timeline is a big test for Carney.

Canada's New Pacific Link Pipeline2:48 – 7:23

Noor AzriehHost

2:48

Well, good morning, everyone.

Noor AzriehHost

2:50

We're getting a pipeline.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

2:53

The government of Canada is officially listing the West Coast Pipeline, now known as Pacific Link, as a project of national interest.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

3:02

Oh, yeah.

Noor AzriehHost

3:04

Last Thursday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith was showing all 32 standing behind Prime Minister Carney and his version of a big shiny red bow.

Noor AzriehHost

3:14

A sign that reads, Canada strong for all.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

3:18

This is a Canada that works.

Mark CarneySoundbite Speaker

3:20

A Canada that recognizes opportunity and it seizes it.

Noor AzriehHost

3:26

They were in Fort McMurray, Alberta, announcing Canada's first project of national interest, a new bitumen pipeline to the Pacific coast called the Pacific Link.

Noor AzriehHost

3:39

For too long, we've watched projects with enormous transformative potential get mired down in uncertainty and delay.

Noor AzriehHost

3:45

And today we're turning the page.

Noor AzriehHost

3:46

Is she talking about Trudeau? It feels like she's talking about Trudeau.

Noor AzriehHost

3:55

The Pacific Link Pipeline would run for 1,211 kilometers.

Noor AzriehHost

4:00

That's 24 marathons in a row, plus a little sprint at the end.

Noor AzriehHost

4:06

The pipeline would start in Alberta, in Bruderheim, 60-ish kilometers away from Edmonton.

Noor AzriehHost

4:12

It would cross into British Columbia, largely along the existing Trans Mountain Pipeline corridor, and end at a port in Delta, south of Vancouver.

Noor AzriehHost

4:23

From there, tankers would ship a million barrels of homegrown Alberta bitumen a day to the rest of the world.

Noor AzriehHost

4:33

And those bitumen-filled tankers would be traveling through waters Carney had just spent $1.2 billion in federal funding to protect, literally days before the pipeline announcement.

Noor AzriehHost

4:52

This is a massive project with a price tag between $35 to $44 billion.

Noor AzriehHost

5:01

And when Carney outlined the deal last year, he said the pipeline would have to be privately built and financed.

Noor AzriehHost

5:09

But that's just not the case right now.

Noor AzriehHost

5:11

Canadian tax dollars are paying for almost all of this thing.

Noor AzriehHost

5:16

Ottawa and Alberta are funding 90% of the project.

Noor AzriehHost

5:21

And Alberta's pushing for construction to start soon, like less than a year soon.

Noor AzriehHost

5:27

And that timeline is a big test for Carney.