DR. JACK MINTZ
President’s Fellow at the School of Public Policy,
University of Calgary

A memorandum of understanding was announced by the federal government and Alberta officials, outlining conditions for a new bitumen pipeline capable of moving a million barrels per day to a West‑Coast terminal. Despite the promise of expanded capacity, the initiative has been characterized as a “pipe dream” that will not resolve the historic perception of Alberta being treated as a resource colony, with the province continuing to shoulder a disproportionate fiscal transfer – $19 billion in 2024 – after contributing $73 billion in taxes and fees.  

Political backlash has been amplified, with the policy described as reinforcing regional alienation rather than fostering national unity. Public opinion polls indicate that while a majority oppose separation, a sizable minority (31 %) still favor it, underscoring persistent discontent over Ottawa’s equalization scheme, high taxation, and perceived central‑Canada dominance over Alberta’s energy sector.

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