New markets for Canada's oil remain elusive
A war of words, along with legal challenges and counter-challenges, could see plans for Canada's Trans Mountain export pipeline scrapped
Canada's quest to export oil from its shores has hit dire straits, with Trans Mountain pipeline builder Kinder Morgan threatening to withdraw support for the C$7.4 bn ($5.75bn) project. The plan is to transport production from Alberta's oil sands through British Columbia (BC) to the Pacific coast. BC opposes the idea. The whole affair has sparked a constitutional crisis over jurisdictional issues that's almost certainly going to go to the country's Supreme Court. Hanging in the balance is vitally needed export capacity—nearly 600,000 barrels a day—to secure new markets in Asia. Without it, Canadian oil will remain landlocked at the mercy of a single customer—the United States. Alberta's barr
Also in this section
12 December 2025
The latest edition of our annual Outlook publication, titled 'The shape of energy to come: Creating unique pathways and managing shifting alliances', is available now
12 December 2025
The federal government is working with Alberta to improve the country’s access to Asian markets and reduce dependence on the US, but there are challenges to their plans
11 December 2025
The removal of the ban on oil and gas exploration and an overhaul of the system sends all the right messages for energy security, affordability and sustainability
10 December 2025
The economic and environmental cost of the seven-year exploration ban will be felt long after its removal






