Prime Minister Mark Carney and Alberta Premier Danielle Smith have reached the broad terms of an agreement that could enable a new crude pipeline connecting Alberta to Canada’s west coast, according to national media reports. The framework includes federal exemptions and political backing for a future project, contingent on stricter carbon pricing and a multibillion-dollar carbon capture commitment from the Pathways Alliance.
Why It Matters
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A potential new export corridor
A west coast pipeline would give Canada an additional avenue to reach Pacific Basin customers and reduce reliance on US refiners.
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Regulatory breakthrough
Federal carve-outs and political support represent a notable shift after years of stringent coastal restrictions and tanker limitations.
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Economic alignment
Alberta has long argued that limited pipeline capacity suppresses pricing power and investment appetite in its oil sector.
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Indigenous and regional tension
Opposition in British Columbia highlights political and social risks that could shape routing, permitting, and project timing.
What the Map Shows
The map highlights Canada's existing crude oil network alongside potential expansion corridors:
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Existing transmission pipelines (green) connecting Alberta to British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the US.
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Under-development corridors (red) indicating where new westbound capacity may be proposed.
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12 operational refineries across British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan.
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Liquid terminals that anchor western export capacity and show where added volumes could be integrated.
Together, the layers illustrate how a new west coast pipeline would plug into Canada’s existing system and where capacity bottlenecks or routing constraints may emerge.
A Deeper Dive with DataLink
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Filter crude pipelines to compare operational and proposed westbound routes.
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Overlay refineries and terminals to identify where additional export flows could be absorbed.
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Evaluate routing options across Alberta and British Columbia using land, infrastructure, and environmental overlays.
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Review operator acreage to determine which producers would benefit most from expanded Pacific access.
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Assess potential buyer or partner fit by reviewing operator footprints and regional concentration without naming specific companies, particularly if assets along proposed corridors come to market.
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