Enbridge CEO Says Pipeline Plans Won’t Move Forward Without Federal Policy Changes
The head of Enbridge, Canada’s largest oil shipping company, says his company won’t invest more than time and advice into Alberta’s idea for a new West Coast pipeline unless the federal government changes key environmental policies.
Greg Ebel, Enbridge’s CEO, spoke at the Empire Club of Canada on Thursday. He said Canada’s oil industry wants to grow but faces too many roadblocks.
“The last 10 years have been a disaster for Canada’s competitiveness. But the next 10 years could be a chance for renewal—if we choose to lead,” Ebel said.
His comments came a day after Alberta Premier Danielle Smith announced $14 million in provincial funding to begin early regulatory work on a possible new pipeline to northern British Columbia. The port has not yet been chosen, but Prince Rupert is one option.
Ebel pointed out that the Alberta government, not private companies, is leading the proposal. He said the federal ban on oil tankers along northern B.C.’s coast is one of several major policies that must change if the project is to succeed.
“The tanker ban is a great example of what needs to shift if Canada wants to maximize its economic potential,” he said. “Let markets guide routes and capacity, while governments create the conditions for success.”
A committee of industry leaders, politicians, and First Nations representatives will help decide a route and prepare an application to the federal Major Projects Office, which was created to speed up important national projects. Enbridge, Trans Mountain, and South Bow Corp. will all sit on the committee.
In his speech, Ebel repeated industry demands to end three federal rules:
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the oil tanker ban,
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the cap on emissions (which companies say acts like a cap on production),
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and the industrial carbon price (which they say makes Canada less competitive).
Industry leaders also want faster environmental reviews and more First Nations involvement. Smith has said that, in the future, private companies and Indigenous groups should take the lead on the pipeline. But Ebel said it’s too early for Enbridge to commit more than advice until Ottawa changes the rules.
Not everyone believes the project will happen. Analysts at CIBC said they doubt Alberta’s plan will succeed, even though they support the province’s push to grow the energy industry.
Environmental groups and some First Nations leaders strongly oppose the idea of reversing the tanker ban. Critics also say it’s wrong for the province to spend taxpayer money on oil pipelines while renewable energy projects face hurdles.
In Ottawa, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre backed Ebel’s calls for change. He said the federal government should simply “get out of the way” if it wants pipelines to be built.
The federal government, meanwhile, says any pipeline plan will be judged under current rules, including requirements for Indigenous consultation and climate goals.
