British Columbia has rejected Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's proposal to run a pipeline from her province to the Pacific — for now.Deputy Premier Niki Sharma said such a project had "no proponent at this stage" west of the Rockies, but maintained that anything could happen in the future."We understand that Premier Smith is advocating in the interest of her province, and we'll be doing the same here today," she said during a press conference at the First Ministers' Meeting in Saskatchewan on Monday. "Although we have differences of opinion with respect to that, we're focused on where we can find alignment."Sharma said that a pipeline was just not in the cards at the moment, and that BC was instead focused on "shovel-ready projects ... that will have a really solid impact on the economy and will help us work together with our neighbours." She highlighted those that involve the province's clean energy and critical mineral sectors..Smith said a pipeline would strengthen national unity by showing Albertans their interests were being respected. Sharma said BC was "Team Canada all the way," and would make sure projects discussed align with a "One Canada" approach..Smith confident in new Western pipeline, calls for policy changes."I think we'll have the most success right now is working on a corridor between Hudson Bay and Port Prince Rupert," Smith said, "and I hope that we can get some common ground on that."."Oil is by far the most valuable export for Canada," Smith added, arguing that a bitumen pipeline would be the most beneficial project for the provinces to collectively undertake. "There's $9 trillion worth of value in discoverable and achievable reserves right now, and so why would you leave that in the ground? No other country in the world would."
