Alberta Premier Danielle Smith Signals Imminent Deal with Ottawa

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith speaks at the Alberta Municipalities Convention on Nov. 13, 2025. Smith said Thursday that negotiations with Ottawa on a bitumen pipeline are ongoing..

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says her government is close to finalizing an agreement with Ottawa that could reshape the province’s energy future. Speaking at the Alberta Municipalities Convention, Smith confirmed that negotiations with the federal government are progressing and that a memorandum of understanding is expected to be signed in the coming days.

The deal is centered on Alberta’s push for a new bitumen export pipeline to Asian markets, a project Smith has championed as vital for the province’s economic growth. While the pipeline was not included in Ottawa’s latest list of nation-building projects slated for fast-track approval, Smith emphasized that “sensitive” talks remain underway. Her office noted that the agreement would involve revisiting federal laws that Alberta argues have discouraged private investment in the energy sector.

Smith has tied the timing of the deal to major national events, previously suggesting she hoped it would be finalized by the CFL Grey Cup. Although that deadline has passed, she remains optimistic that Alberta and Ottawa will reach common ground soon. The federal government, meanwhile, has announced a second batch of major projects—including mining and infrastructure initiatives—that could be expedited, signaling its broader commitment to energy and development across Canada.

For Alberta, the stakes are high. A pipeline to the West Coast would open new export routes, reduce reliance on U.S. markets, and strengthen the province’s role in global energy supply. Smith’s government insists that securing federal cooperation is essential to overcoming regulatory hurdles and ensuring the project’s success.

If signed, the agreement could mark a turning point in federal-provincial relations, balancing Ottawa’s environmental priorities with Alberta’s economic ambitions. The coming days will reveal whether both sides can bridge their differences and deliver a deal that reshapes Canada’s energy landscape.