Pipeline policy divides B.C., Alberta as premiers meet with Carney in Saskatoon

British Columbia is pushing back against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's proposal for a bitumen pipeline to B.C.'s northern coast.

British Columbia is pushing back against Alberta Premier Danielle Smith’s proposal for a bitumen pipeline to B.C.’s northern coast.

It was among the topics of Prime Minister Mark Carney’s meeting Monday with premiers in Saskatoon, where the assembled leaders are discussing a draft list of “national interest” projects to be fast-tracked through the approval process.

Smith said any project list that doesn’t include new pipelines would send a bad message to Alberta as separatist sentiment flares up in that province.

Smith said she wants to see a bitumen pipeline built to ship oil to the Port of Prince Rupert on B.C.’s northern coast.

B.C. deputy premier Niki Sharma pointed out Monday that Smith’s pipeline proposal has “no proponent at this stage” and said her province is pursuing “shovel-ready” projects.

“Although we have differences of opinion with respect to that, we’re focused on where we can find alignment,” Sharma said on her way into Monday’s meeting.

“We’re going to be focused on shovel-ready projects in B.C. that we can bring forward and we know will have a really solid impact on the economy.”

B.C. Premier David Eby was not at the meeting. He is in Asia for a preplanned trade mission.