A Handshake That Hasn't Convinced Albertans
Alberta has seen a lot of pipeline promises over the years — and apparently, residents have learned to keep their expectations in check.
A new poll conducted by Janet Brown Opinion Research for CBC News finds that a majority of Albertans don't believe the memorandum of understanding (MOU) recently signed between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Premier Danielle Smith will actually result in a new pipeline being built. Despite the political fanfare and photo-op energy surrounding the signing, public confidence in the deal turning into real steel in the ground appears to be low.
What the Poll Found
The survey captures a sentiment that's become familiar to many energy-sector watchers in Canada: optimism at the announcement stage, skepticism everywhere else. Albertans have lived through the highs of pipeline approvals and the lows of cancellations — most notably the death of Keystone XL in 2021 — and that history seems to be shaping how they read this latest development.
While the specific breakdown of the poll numbers points to a majority doubting the MOU will deliver, it's worth noting that Albertans aren't necessarily opposed to pipelines — quite the opposite. The skepticism here is less about wanting a pipeline and more about whether Ottawa and Edmonton can actually get one built in the current political and regulatory environment.
A Deal Built on Good Intentions?
MOUs are, by nature, non-binding. They signal intent and create a framework for further negotiation, but they don't lay pipe. That distinction matters enormously in a province that has seen energy megaprojects stall for years under federal reviews, court challenges, and shifting political winds.
Premier Smith has long pushed for greater provincial control over energy development, while Prime Minister Carney, newly elected, has been navigating the delicate balance of courting Alberta's energy sector while managing environmental commitments and Quebec's ongoing opposition to new pipelines crossing its territory.
The MOU was framed as a step toward national energy unity — a signal that a Liberal federal government could work constructively with Alberta. But if the poll is any indication, that message hasn't fully landed with the people it was aimed at.
Why It Matters
Canada's pipeline debate has never really been about the pipes themselves. It's about jurisdiction, reconciliation with Indigenous communities, climate targets, and the economic future of a province whose identity is deeply tied to oil and gas. Any new pipeline project would need to navigate all of those layers — and Albertans, perhaps better than anyone, know how quickly things can unravel.
For Carney, the MOU represents an early test of whether his government can rebuild trust with Western Canada after years of tension under the previous Liberal administration. For Smith, it's a political win in the short term — but pressure will mount if the deal doesn't advance into something concrete.
The poll serves as a reality check: signing a piece of paper is the easy part. Delivering a pipeline is another matter entirely.
Source: CBC News / Janet Brown Opinion Research poll, as reported by CBC Top Stories.
