Carney government to vote against Conservative motion on pipeline support

The Liberal government will vote against a Conservative motion on Tuesday that calls for the federal government to support a bitumen pipeline, a senior government source tells CTV News.

The opposition motion, which is non-binding, explicitly calls for the support of “one or more pipelines enabling the export of at least one million barrels a day of low-emission Alberta bitumen from a strategic deep-water port on the British Columbia coast to Asia markets,” and for the “adjustment to the Oil Tanker Moratorium Act, while respecting the duty to consult Indigenous Peoples.”

The wording of the motion is similar to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) that was signed last month between the federal government and Alberta, which outlined the conditions that need to be met for a new oil pipeline to the Pacific to proceed, but does not include measures Alberta has agreed upon.

According to the source, the motion “ignores critical elements” of the MOU, such as industrial carbon pricing, co-ownership opportunities for Indigenous Peoples and engagement with British Columbia. As a result, the federal government will vote against it.

“By refusing to support all elements of this MOU, Conservatives are demonstrating their intent to divide Canadians and inability to get big things built,” the source said, while emphasizing the current trade war with the U.S.

In the MOU, Alberta agreed to negotiate an industrial carbon pricing agreement by April 2026 that would implement an industrial carbon price with a floor of $130 per tonne, and calls for the development of the Pathways Project, the world’s largest carbon capture utilization and storage project.

In return, the federal Liberals have agreed to suspend the clean electricity regulations in the province, not implement the oil and gas emissions cap, and if required, make an exemption to the federal tanker ban.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has also been clear that a pipeline will not happen without the support from a private proponent.

Speaking to reporters on Parliament Hill on Monday, Alberta Liberal MP Corey Hogan called it a motion “that’s designed to provoke and to divide” and said a “yes or no vote makes the pipeline less likely.”

“If it’s a yes vote, it might look like we don’t take seriously our requirement to consult with B.C. First Nations and if it’s a no vote, it might look like we’re not serious about the pipeline,” Hogan added.

In an interview with CTV Power Play with Vassy Kapelos on Monday, Conservative House Leader Andrew Scheer said there is “ambiguity” in the MOU.

“What our motion is attempting to do tomorrow is to provide that clarity. Give Liberals an opportunity to vote for their own MOU,” Scheer said. “We’ve lifted language right from the MOU. If they vote in favour, then that would send a signal that they’re at least going to back up what they sign on to.”

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has called the energy deal with Ottawa “a great day for Alberta.”

When asked by Kapelos about Smith’s comments, Scheer said the Conservatives would not impose an increased industrial carbon tax on a province.

“We’re pro-energy. We don’t believe that that the government should make it harder to get things built,” Scheer added.

With files from CTV News’ Rachel Aiello