Smith supports Saskatchewan’s blanket pipeline approvals

Follow the leader.

Normally it’s other provinces following Alberta’s lead on energy issues.

But Alberta Premier Danielle Smith on Thursday was giving credit where credit is due by endorsing a plan from Saskatchewan’s Scott Moe to pre-approve oil and gas pipelines headed to all points on the compass.

“I have asked my officials to see how we can align with Saskatchewan. It’s time for Team Canada to get serious about our domestic energy security, nation building, and growing our economy,” she posted to Twitter (“X”).

“Alberta remains one of the most business-friendly jurisdictions in North America and I have repeatedly emphasized Alberta’s willingness to work with other provinces and the federal government to develop new pipeline projects across the country as soon as possible.”

It comes after Moe on Wednesday declared open season on pipeline approvals moments after US president Donal Trump declared he will unequivocally impose tariffs on Canadian industry — including oil and gas — after April 2.

“Effective Immediately: All pipeline permits going east, west, or south received in Saskatchewan will be considered pre-approved,” he wrote. “We encourage all provinces and the federal government to do the same.”

It comes as Canada’s federal and provincial leaders scramble to reduce interprovincial trade barriers as a response to Trump’s tariff threats and moves to coerce Canada into becoming the ‘51st State’.

Moe, along with Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, have argued that pipelines to Canada’s east and west coast — and even the Arctic — could have pre-empted Trump’s tariff takeover and made the country more resilient to the prospect of an economic assault.

Even Trump himself on Monday called for the resurrection of the Keystone XL pipeline, a portion of which would — and did — cross Saskatchewan borders before it was revoked and ripped out of the ground.

But Moe on Tuesday said he supports resurrecting Keystone XL, as long as Trump’s tariffs are called off.

“The path to continental energy dominance is to increase non-tariff North American trade. This includes the construction of new pipelines like Keystone XL,” Moe said in Twitter (“X”) post.