Ontario & Alberta Aim to Boost Economy with Infrastructure

New pipelines and railways are at the heart of interprovincial collaboration.

**Doug Ford**, Premier of Ontario, and **Danielle Smith**, Premier of Alberta, have announced plans to enhance the connection between the provinces’ economies via new infrastructure projects. The focus is on pipelines and railways to foster Canadian trade.

East-West Pipeline Project

According to the new agreements, Alberta and Ontario will collaborate on planning for an east-west pipeline using Ontario steel. The pipeline would connect to Ontario’s planned James Bay deep-sea port, located in the northern region of the province.

The provinces will assess the feasibility of railway lines connecting the Ring of Fire, a mineral-rich area in northern Ontario, to processing facilities and ports in the west.

Alberta and Ontario are joining forces to get shovels in the ground and resources to market,” said **Premier Smith** in a statement. “These MOUs are about building pipelines and boosting trade that connect Canadian energy and products to the world, while advocating for the right conditions to get it done.”

Statements on Energy Exports

Prior to the signing, **Premier Ford** and **Energy Minister Stephen Lecce** engaged in a discussion with **Alberta Premier Danielle Smith** and other government officials, aligning their views on energy exports.

The best way to protect Canadian workers from tariffs and economic uncertainty is to build the infrastructure that will get our resources to new markets,” said **Ford** on social media.

Our government is getting it done for workers.

Today, I sat down with 🇨🇦 Premiers to discuss how we can break down trade barriers and unlock the full potential of our economy.

The best way to protect Canadian workers from tariffs and economic uncertainty is to build the… pic.twitter.com/uJhisFvJyI

— Doug Ford (@fordnation) March 6, 2024

We discussed how we can build new pipelines, rail lines and ports that will help us export Canadian critical minerals and energy to new customers around the world.”

National Security and Energy

During his election campaign, **Ford** promised to support the Energy East, Northern Gateway, and other pipeline projects leading to Canada’s northern coast.

The move is considered a matter of national security, as one Alberta-Ontario oil pipeline currently runs through the United States. **Ford** highlighted the risk of relying on foreign infrastructure:

We have the Governor of Michigan constantly threatening to shut down the pipeline — do you know the disaster that would create in Ontario?

He added, It would basically shut down Pearson International Airport, the largest airport in the country, prices would go through the roof.”

Criticism and Support

**Mike Schreiner**, leader of the Ontario Green Party, criticized the announcement, calling it a dangerous escalation in **Ford’s** fossil fuel agenda.

**Schreiner** stated that **Ford** is committing billions in public dollars to pipelines and gas infrastructure that will lock Ontario into expensive, polluting energy for decades.”

Before the announcement, **Ford’s** Chief of Staff described the project as a truly transformative and job-creating infrastructure project that will support the economic independence and energy security of Ontario and all of Canada,” in an internal memo.

Project Timelines

The timelines for constructing the pipelines and railways remain unclear. Ontario is currently working to accelerate the construction of an all-season road to the Ring of Fire, with construction on one part of the route not scheduled to begin until 2028. According to a recent report, infrastructure projects in Canada face an average delay of 18 months (Fraser Institute).

The James Bay deep-sea port, where the pipeline would end, has not yet been built but is a priority for **Ford**.

We’re doers,” **Ford** said, promising to oversee the project from the planning stage through to construction.