Quebec Premier Francois Legault rejected on Tuesday the revival of the Energy East pipeline project, blocking plans to move western Canadian crude oil to eastern provinces. Legault told reporters he sees no path forward for the proposed pipeline, which would move more than 1 million barrels per day of crude oil from Alberta to New Brunswick.
In Quebec they have "no social acceptability" for pipelines, eh? Well, then it's time to immediately terminate all equalization payments to Quebec.
— Paul Mitchell (@PaulMitchell_AB) February 4, 2025
This "Team Canada" stuff doesn't cut the mustard when Alberta always pays Quebec and Quebec always gives Alberta the middle finger. https://t.co/YFFPxOSwUh
The project would convert an existing natural gas pipeline to carry crude oil 2,900 miles from Hardisty, Alberta to Saint John, New Brunswick. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith had proposed reviving the project in January after the US threatened tariffs on Canadian crude imports, according to the CBC.
Irving Oil’s 320,000 barrel-per-day refinery in Saint John stands to benefit from the pipeline. The facility currently relies on US and foreign crude imports. Market sources say Irving remains skeptical about the project’s approval chances and funding prospects.
Team Canada only when Quebec is threatened.
— The Deep Dive (@TheDeepDive_ca) February 4, 2025
I guess for Alberta's sake, if oil is only tariffed 10% and everything else is tariffed 25%, they're best off to sit back and let it happen.
Squeeze the east a bit until they give in to working for Canadians and not just themselves. https://t.co/t6J6f0iNCL
The pipeline proposal, estimated to cost $12 billion, would require extensive regulatory approvals and faces environmental opposition. Montreal residents have raised concerns about drinking water contamination. Indigenous groups also oppose the project.
TransCanada canceled the original Energy East proposal in 2017 after facing similar provincial opposition.
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