Martha Hall Findlay was deeply moved upon hearing Canada’s prime minister and Alberta’s premier express enthusiasm for the crucial role of the Pathways carbon capture project in their longstanding “grand bargain.” Findlay, a former Liberal MP and oilsands executive involved in the Pathways Alliance development, was touched by the support from the two leaders. She described the moment as a breakthrough, especially after facing obstacles in the past. Currently, Findlay serves as the director of the School of Public Policy at the University of Calgary.
A recent agreement between Alberta and Ottawa paves the way for a new bitumen pipeline through British Columbia as part of a series of environmental regulatory changes that will shape the country’s energy sector in the coming years. Federal officials have made it clear that the advancement of Pathways Plus is a prerequisite for the bitumen pipeline approval. The Pathways Alliance, comprising major Canadian oilsands companies committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, proposes a significant carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) project near Cold Lake, Alberta.
CEO Kendall Dilling of the Pathways Alliance expressed gratitude for the leadership of Premier Danielle Smith and Prime Minister Mark Carney in fostering an environment conducive to the growth of the energy industry. The project aims to contribute to the Canadian economy and establish Canada as a global energy powerhouse. Despite the project’s categorical commitment, significant challenges lie ahead, particularly concerning the economic viability and public support required for its success.
The alignment between federal and provincial governments marks a significant milestone for the project, which had faced uncertainties earlier. However, the project still encounters opposition from environmental groups, Indigenous communities raising safety concerns, and economic skeptics like former Alberta Premier Jason Kenney. The Pathways Plus project is poised to become the largest carbon capture, utilization, and storage initiative globally, according to the federal government.