Eby and Carney Tackle Two Big Files in One Call
B.C. Premier David Eby had a lot to get through in a single phone call with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Thursday — and by the sounds of it, he didn't hold back.
At the top of the agenda: rumours circulating in political circles about a potential southern route for an oil pipeline from Alberta through British Columbia. The speculation has been making the rounds, fuelling concern among B.C. residents and environmental advocates about what such a route could mean for the province's wilderness, coastline, and Indigenous territories.
Eby said Carney was direct with him: the rumours didn't come from the Prime Minister's Office. It was the kind of candid reassurance that — at least for now — seems to have put some of the chatter to rest.
The Pipeline Question Isn't Going Away
Even with Carney's denial, the pipeline conversation is unlikely to disappear anytime soon. Alberta has long pushed for expanded export capacity for its oil sands crude, and with global energy markets in flux and Canada-U.S. trade tensions simmering, the political pressure to explore new routes remains real.
For B.C., any southern pipeline proposal would be deeply contentious. The province is home to some of Canada's most ecologically sensitive regions, and several First Nations have been vocal about their right to be consulted — and to say no — on projects that cross their territories.
Eby has consistently said B.C. will not be steamrolled on major energy infrastructure decisions, and Thursday's call appears to have been part of keeping those lines of communication open with the new federal government.
Liquor Ban Still in Effect
The other major topic on the call was B.C.'s ban on American liquor products — a retaliatory measure the province introduced in response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
The ban, which removed American wines, spirits, and beers from B.C. Liquor Stores, was one of the more visible provincial responses to the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the United States. Eby has framed it as a matter of economic solidarity and leverage.
Details of exactly what was discussed on the liquor file weren't fully disclosed, but the fact that it made the call agenda signals it remains an active pressure point between Victoria and Ottawa as both governments navigate the broader Canada-U.S. trade relationship.
A Federal-Provincial Relationship to Watch
Eby and Carney are still early in what will likely be a closely watched federal-provincial relationship. B.C. tends to be assertive on environmental and resource issues, while the new Liberal government under Carney is still establishing its positions on major files.
The willingness to pick up the phone and talk directly — even about uncomfortable rumours — is a reasonable sign that both leaders are at least trying to stay aligned before disagreements harden into conflicts.
For Canadians watching from coast to coast, these conversations matter. Decisions made between Ottawa and the provinces on pipelines, trade retaliation, and energy policy will shape the country's economic and environmental trajectory for years to come.
Source: CBC News Politics
