Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has expressed strong support for Alberta's proposed pipeline project, asserting that no entity outside the federal government should have the authority to veto it. "There is no B.C. coast. It's Canada's coast. There are no B.C. ports. There are Canada's ports," Moe stated, responding to concerns raised by British Columbia Premier David Eby and various Indigenous groups in B.C. about the project. He emphasized, "I feel an equal owner in those ports as a Canadian," and argued that diversifying Canada's economy away from the U.S. hinges on such projects.

On Wednesday, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced plans to submit an application to the federal Major Projects Office for a new pipeline that would transport bitumen from Alberta to the northern coast of British Columbia. Alberta intends to invest $14 million in the proposal and will lead a technical advisory group that includes pipeline companies such as Enbridge, South Bow, and Trans Mountain. The province aims to find a private company or consortium to construct the pipeline, although a specific route has yet to be determined. The application is expected to be submitted in the spring of 2026.

The announcement has sparked a mix of reactions across Canada. B.C. Premier David Eby criticized the proposal as vague and overly dependent on government funding. He stated, "Premier Smith continues to advance a project that is entirely taxpayer-funded, has no private sector proponent, is not a real project, and is incredibly alarming to British Columbians, including First Nations along the coast."

Federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre voiced his support for the pipeline, urging the federal government to "get out of the way" and allow private investors to build it, citing its potential profitability. However, several Indigenous leaders in B.C. have expressed opposition to the project. Marilyn Slett, president of the Coastal First Nations-Great Bear Initiative and chief of the Heiltsuk Tribal Council, stated, "This is not something that we would ever support. There is no project [for which] … we would ever support the lifting of that moratorium" on oil tankers along the northern B.C. coast.

B.C.'s Minister of Energy and Climate Solutions, Adrian Dix, reiterated that the province does not support another pipeline through B.C. The Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, led by Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, also opposed the project, arguing it would infringe on the rights of First Nations.

Moe countered the notion that B.C. groups or leaders could veto the project but acknowledged the importance of consulting Indigenous communities. He stated, "There will be a duty to consult process that is triggered, and certainly will be a robust process, and we might find that there are opportunities for everyone to benefit from an investment just like this."

In related developments, Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced a series of "nation-building" projects that the federal government plans to expedite, including Saskatchewan's McIlvenna Bay Foran Copper Mine Project, which is set to begin operations in 2026. Moe has also highlighted interest in additional mining projects in Saskatchewan, particularly a proposed "port-to-port" pipeline corridor connecting Prince Rupert in B.C. to Churchill, Manitoba, which was discussed at a recent meeting of western premiers.