Former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney sparked controversy this week by claiming British Columbia Premier David Eby poses a greater threat to Canadian confederation than Alberta separatists, citing Eby’s opposition to new oil pipelines through the province.
In a social media post, Kenney argued that hardcore Alberta separatists represent “a tiny minority” who won just 1% of votes in a recent by-election, while Eby is “actively undermining the Canadian Constitution with his ideological hostility to pipelines.”
Kenney made his comments as Alberta Premier Danielle Smith pushes for a new oil pipeline to BC’s northern coast. The dispute follows Canada’s completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion in May 2024, which nearly tripled capacity from Alberta to the BC coast. The federal government spent between $34 billion and $53 billion on the project, according to various reports.
Kenney, who served as Alberta premier from 2019 to 2022, pointed to unanimous Supreme Court rulings affirming federal authority over interprovincial pipelines. He accused Eby, a former civil liberties lawyer, of being “an ideological zealot” who subordinates constitutional law to environmental ideology.
Eby’s office responded that the premier is not opposed to a northern pipeline if privately funded, but will not support tens of billions in federal subsidies when Trans Mountain already has spare capacity. BC also maintains that a federal ban on oil tankers along its northern coast remains necessary.
Recent polling shows approximately 30% of Albertans support provincial separation, though a majority remains opposed.
Kenney called separatism fringe this week, though last month he warned that a sovereignty referendum would be “deeply divisive” and could “divide families” and “break up marriages.” Premier Smith has lowered the barriers for citizen-initiated referendums — just 177,000 signatures can now trigger a provincial vote.
Trans Mountain now exports roughly half its oil to Asia-Pacific markets rather than the United States, diversifying Canada’s energy customer base as the country faces potential American tariffs.
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