Carney says Canada will preserve northern B.C. oil tanker ban while pursuing pipeline to Pacific

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Thursday that Canada’s proposed push to move more Alberta oil to the Pacific will not require changes to a federal ban that keeps oil tankers out of northern British Columbia waters. Carney said his government is working to preserve the northern restriction even as it pursues a pipeline strategy aimed at expanding export capacity beyond existing U.S. routes and addressing environmental concerns raised by British Columbia and First Nations.

Speaking in the context of the federal government’s effort to manage both energy access and environmental risk, Carney said, “The tanker ban will remain in place. We will be protecting the northern coast of British Columbia.” Carney tied the approach to his administration’s goal of protecting B.C.’s “pristine northern coast” while responding to what he described as environmental considerations that have complicated earlier pipeline discussions.

Carney said Alberta Premier Danielle Smith will announce details on a possible pipeline route later Thursday in Calgary, and he scheduled a joint news conference with Smith’s counterparts. The announcement comes as the federal government seeks to reduce political tension with Alberta, where oil industry leaders and provincial officials have criticized federal policies as an impediment to development and as fuel for separatist sentiment.

The diplomatic and regulatory context for Carney’s comments traces to a prior memorandum of understanding between Ottawa and Alberta that contemplated an adjustment of an oil tanker ban along parts of the B.C. coast. But British Columbia Premier David Eby said Thursday that he secured a commitment that would keep the northern tanker ban in place, according to reports, preserving the federal restriction in the north even as negotiations continue for other aspects of the pipeline package.

Carney also said Ottawa would compensate British Columbia for environmental risks if a pipeline proceeds in the southern portion of the province. The statement indicates the federal government is attempting to link any export project not only to transport logistics, but also to mitigation and funding mechanisms meant to address localized impacts.

The broader political backdrop includes Alberta’s plan to hold a public vote in the fall on whether to hold a referendum about leaving Canada. Supporters of a stronger pipeline buildout have argued that improved access to ocean-linked markets could ease pressure on Alberta’s energy sector and reduce separatist momentum, while B.C. and some First Nations have continued to oppose pipeline routes through northern B.C., including for environmental and community-impact reasons.

Carney’s announcement frames Thursday’s outcome as an effort to balance national energy priorities with provincial environmental protections, using the northern tanker ban as a boundary line in negotiations. With route details expected from Alberta later in the day, the next step for federal and provincial officials will be clarifying how the project’s geography interacts with existing transport rules and what funding and safeguards will apply before any pipeline construction advances.

No timeline for pipeline construction was announced in Thursday’s remarks, but Carney’s statements made clear that, regardless of any route that moves Alberta oil toward the Pacific, the northern B.C. tanker restriction will not be lifted under the federal plan under discussion.