Alberta and Ontario pitch another pipeline. This time out east

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Ontario Premier Doug Ford unveiled Monday a route for a proposed west-east oil pipeline.

The two premiers say it would stretch 3,300 kilometres from Hardisty, Alta., to refineries in Sarnia, Ont., without crossing the U.S. border.

They made the announcement at the Calgary Stampede after the two leaders were up bright and early flipping pancakes at Smith's annual premier's breakfast.

An Ontario government brochure says the line would move 500,000 barrels of crude per day and help reduce Canada's need to import refined oil.

"It's a win-win-win," said Ford. "A win for Ontario, a win for Alberta and a win for all of Canada."

The proposed pipeline stems from an agreement Ford and Smith made at last year's Stampede to study an energy corridor connecting the two provinces.

Ford said that study is ongoing and is expected to be finished before the end of the year. He said an estimated cost and proposed building schedule for the pipeline would be determined as part of the study.

Smith said that while the pipeline, if built, would allow for Alberta oil to be refined and used within Canada, it would also open the door to European markets.

"This pipeline is another signal to investors that Canada is once again open for business and the best country on Earth from which to secure a reliable source of energy," she said.

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who also attended Smith's breakfast, said in a news release that the proposal has his support and would generate revenue needed to invest in health care,

education and public safety.

Asked about whether the project has the support of Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, Ford said he's confident they would "work something out."

"I think the world of Premier Kinew," Ford said, adding that building a pipeline to Sarnia would open the opportunity for another line to the Port of Churchill in northern Manitoba.

A proposal to expand and upgrade infrastructure at the Hudson Bay port at Churchill was referred last year to Ottawa's major projects office by Prime Minister Mark Carney. Carney has said he wants to see liquefied natural gas shipping out of the port by 2030, and Kinew has said he doesn't want Manitoba to miss out on

economic benefits that the upgrades would bring.

Monday's pipeline announcement comes days after Smith proposed another new pipeline route from her province to the British Columbia coast, which would move one million barrels per day or

more.

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