Alberta Seeks Deal With Canada's Carney on Repealing Some Environmental Laws

By Paul Vieira

OTTAWA--The leader of the oil-rich Canadian province of Alberta says she's seeking a deal by mid-November from Prime Minister Mark Carney to repeal federal environmental laws that she argues has thwarted investment in the energy patch.

Danielle Smith told reporters in Ottawa that ditching Ottawa's "nine bad laws" is necessary for big energy projects, like an Alberta-backed crude-oil pipeline to the northwest Pacific Coast, to proceed. Carney has championed the need for so-called national-building projects, like natural-gas plants to trade corridors like ports, to rewire an economy that needs to reduce its reliance on a protectionist U.S.

"We are hoping to have some kind of agreement with the prime minister, where he gives a clear indication that he's prepared to address the nine laws that have been creating an investment climate that is hostile to private investment," Smith said. Among the laws are a ban on oil-tanker traffic off the northern British Columbia coast, a cap on carbon emissions from the energy sector, and the current environmental-assessment system.

Those measures were introduced by Carney's predecessor, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Smith alleged Trudeau's policies helped stoke an independence movement in her province. The mid-November timeframe would coincide with the championship game for the Canadian Football League, at which time Carney has said he would unveil a second tranche of major projects that Ottawa would approve for expedited approval.

Representatives for Carney -- in Washington Tuesday for a meeting with President Trump -- were not immediately available for comment. Smith and Carney met prior to his departure to Washington, and in the past Carney has signaled possible changes to existing environmental regulations, like the emissions cap.

Carney has said he wants to position Canada as an energy superpower, thriving in the production and sale of conventional products, like oil and gas, as well as cleaner sources like nuclear and hydro-electricity.

Last week, Smith unveiled plans for her provincial government to lead an effort to build a new pipeline connecting Alberta's crude-oil reserves to the northwest British Columbia coast. She said the province is compelled to take the lead because of a lack of confidence among investors, citing environmental regulations.

"Because of terrible policies for the past 10 years, we now have to step in to make sure that our product gets to market on behalf of our ratepayers," she said in Ottawa. "We hope to get it to a point where the private sector has confidence that it's going to be built."

Smith said the goal is to submit next year an application for Carney's approval of the new crude pipeline, which she envisages carrying up to one million barrels of crude-oil per day. Carney recently issued approval for an expansion of a liquefied natural-gas export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia.

Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 07, 2025 11:44 ET (15:44 GMT)