BY SHONDELL SABAD, SENIOR STRATEGIC ADVISOR AT THE ALBERTA ENTERPRISE GROUP

This week’s announcement from Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to explore new pipeline infrastructure, marks a rare moment of alignment between Alberta and Ottawa. It is only a first step, but it signals something important: a shared willingness to take on big challenges together.

As Rational Optimists, Albertans welcome opportunities like this. We mobilize, innovate, and get to work; however, we also acknowledge the reality. Canada has struggled for years to build major energy infrastructure. Yet when governments provide clarity and partnership, Albertans deliver world class results.

This MOU matters because it reflects three meaningful shifts:

1. Recognition that Canada needs more pipeline capacity, not less
2. A more constructive federal–provincial relationship
3. A national understanding that Alberta’s success fuels Canada’s prosperity

AEG members know that their businesses, engineers, and tradespeople excel when barriers are removed and investment can flow. A new pipeline isn’t just an energy project; it is a competitiveness strategy and a nation-building opportunity.

Yes, the road ahead is long, but the alternative – inaction – is far worse. This is where rational optimism shines: see the challenge clearly and move decisively toward the solution.

If Alberta and Ottawa remain aligned, the benefits will be felt across the entire country for decades.

📖 Announcement:
https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/news-releases/2025/11/27/canada-and-alberta-strike-new-partnership-lower-emissions-unlock-our