Politics Canada wants more independence from the USA with oil pipeline
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has signed a declaration of intent to build an oil pipeline more than 1,000 kilometers long to the Pacific - also to free his country from dependence on the USA, where most of its oil has been exported to date. The core of the agreement with the province of Alberta is that Ottawa will support the construction of the pipeline, which will transport one million barrels of oil a day from Alberta to an export terminal on the west coast, as reported by the broadcaster CBC. From there, the oil will mainly be shipped to Asia.
28.11.2025, 21:09
28.11.2025, 21:10
SDA
At the signing ceremony, Carney praised the fact that this would make Canada stronger and more independent. However, environmentalists sharply criticized the project and one minister resigned in protest. Critics accuse the government of abandoning its climate protection goals and strengthening the oil industry instead.
According to a report in the Globe and Mail, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith explained with regard to the USA that the province and the country are no longer dependent on just one customer with the pipeline. Carney emphasized that the once close relationship with the US is now often a disadvantage.
Fear of environmental damage and escalating costs
Criticism also came from the government of Alberta's neighboring province on the Pacific, British Columbia. Head of government David Eby criticized possible environmental damage and escalating costs as well as the lack of route planning for the pipeline.
The province of Alberta has huge oil reserves. Most of it is found in the Athabasca region in the form of oil sand, a tar-like substance that looks similar to sticky asphalt. The highly oily product is extracted in surface mining and liquefied using a great deal of energy.
Burning oil, gas and coal releases climate-damaging greenhouse gases that dangerously heat up the planet. The fatal consequences are more severe and more frequent droughts, storms, forest fires and floods. There were also major wildfires in Canada in 2025. These lasted until the beginning of September and caused the second-highest annual emissions since records began - only surpassed by 2023. Plumes of smoke drifted across the Atlantic to Western Europe in August.
